My Win XP Pro has a problem with Windows Explorer. When I go into explorer, it will open and function normally for a couple minutes, then quit and the icons on desktop disappear and then are replaced. Any instances of explorer windows are closed. This happens pretty consistently.. basically all the time - it makes using the computer very frustrating! Any ideas?

Here is my hijackthis logfile:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:52:48 AM, on 5/3/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe
C:\Program Files\eSnips\ClientGW.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe
C:\WiRNS\WiRNSMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Eraser\eraser.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
C:\Program Files\PC-TV\WinManager\WinManager.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasDtServ.exe
C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WiRNS\WiRNS.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = local.,
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O3 - Toolbar: eSnips - {ED1184DA-E57E-4480-99D0-A16809037F54} - C:\Program Files\eSnips\SnipBar.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Picasa Media Detector] C:\Program Files\Picasa2\PicasaMediaDetector.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools-1033] "C:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program Files\Hewlett-Packard\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [eSnips] "C:\Program Files\eSnips\ClientGW.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [gcasServ] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft AntiSpyware\gcasServ.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WiRNSMon] C:\WiRNS\WiRNSMon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Eraser] C:\Program Files\Eraser\eraser.exe -hide
O4 - Global Startup: ATI CATALYST System Tray.lnk = C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
O4 - Global Startup: WinManager.lnk = C:\Program Files\PC-TV\WinManager\WinManager.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Snip to my eSnips account - C:\Program Files\eSnips\res\SnipIt.htm
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\bonjour\mdnsnsp.dll
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) -
O16 - DPF: {E5F5D008-DD2C-4D32-977D-1A0ADF03058B} (JuniperSetup Control) -
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{3AF5EF7F-05E5-4C9B-AC5A-7785DB146BEE}: NameServer = ,
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{3AF5EF7F-05E5-4C9B-AC5A-7785DB146BEE}: NameServer = ,
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\..\{3AF5EF7F-05E5-4C9B-AC5A-7785DB146BEE}: NameServer = ,
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\Google\GOOGLE~2\GOEC62~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: StarWind iSCSI Service (StarWindService) - Rocket Division Software - C:\Program Files\Alcohol Soft\Alcohol 120\StarWind\StarWindService.exe
O23 - Service: WiRNS (WiRNS.exe) - rbolen70 - C:\WiRNS\WiRNS.exe

Dani AI

Generated

Frequent Explorer restarts usually come from one of a handful of causes: a third‑party shell extension or context‑menu handler, a bad or mismatched display driver, corrupted system files or disk errors, or a misbehaving background process. The HijackThis output submitted by shows many third‑party items at startup, so 's move to remove the clearly suspicious service is a reasonable first step — but isolating the failing module is more diagnostic than deleting things at random.

A focused troubleshooting sequence that avoids unnecessary reinstalls:

  • Inspect the Application/System logs in Event Viewer for entries tied to explorer.exe and copy the exact "faulting module" and timestamp. That line usually names the DLL or driver responsible.
  • Confirm whether Explorer is stable in Safe Mode. If it is, the problem is almost certainly a third‑party shell extension or non‑Microsoft service/driver.
  • Try a selective clean boot (msconfig: hide Microsoft services, disable the rest; disable nonessential startup items) to narrow which service or startup item triggers the crash.

Tools and quick fixes to try next:

  • Disable non‑Microsoft shell extensions and context‑menu handlers (use tools that show/disable shell extensions) and reboot Explorer after changes.
  • Update or roll back the video/display driver — graphics drivers commonly crash explorer.exe.
  • Repair system files and check disk health from an elevated command prompt:
    sfc /scannow
    chkdsk c: /f

If crashes continue despite the above, gather precise failure data (Event Viewer crash lines or a small crash dump from a crash‑capture utility). The exact faulting module name is the most useful single clue for deciding whether to remove a third‑party DLL, update/rollback a driver, or repair Windows system files.

Welcome to daniweb :)

Begin by opening HJT and checking the following:

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = local.,
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WiRNSMon] C:\WiRNS\WiRNSMon.exe
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{3AF5EF7F-05E5-4C9B-AC5A-7785DB146BEE}: NameServer = ,
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{3AF5EF7F-05E5-4C9B-AC5A-7785DB146BEE}: NameServer = ,
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\..\{3AF5EF7F-05E5-4C9B-AC5A-7785DB146BEE}: NameServer = ,
O23 - Service: WiRNS (WiRNS.exe) - rbolen70 - C:\WiRNS\WiRNS.exe

After doing this, follow these intstructions.

Copy this advise to a Notepad file. Save it to your desktop. We will use it later

1) Please download the .
Unzip it to the desktop but do NOT run it yet.

2) Then please reboot into Safe Mode by restarting your computer and pressing F8 as your computer is booting up. Then select the Safe Mode option.

3) Once in Safe Mode, please run Killbox.

4) Select "Delete on Reboot".

5) Open the text file with these instructions in it, and copy the file names below to the clipboard by highlighting them and pressing Control-C:

C:\WiRNS\WiRNSMon.exe
C:\WiRNS\WiRNS.exe

6) Return to Killbox, go to the File menu, and choose "Paste from Clipboard".

7) Click the red-and-white "Delete File" button. Click "Yes" at the Delete on Reboot prompt. Click "No" at the Pending Operations prompt.

If you receive a message such as: "Component 'MsComCtl.ocx' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid." when trying to run TheKillbox, click to download and run missingfilesetup.exe. Then try TheKillbox again..

Let the system reboot.

After rebooting, followup by downloading .

  • Install ewido security suite
  • When installing, under "Additional Options" uncheck..
    • Install background guard
    • Install scan via context menu
  • Launch ewido, there should be an icon on your desktop, double-click it.
  • The program will now open to the main screen.
  • When you run ewido for the first time, you will get a warning "Database could not be found!". Click OK. We will fix this in a moment.
  • You will need to update ewido to the latest definition files.
    • On the left hand side of the main screen click Update.
    • Then click on Start Update.
  • The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed. The status bar at the bottom will display "Update successful"
  • Click on Scanner
  • Click on Complete System Scan and the scan will begin.
  • You will be prompted to clean the first infection.
  • Select "Perform action on all infections", then proceed.
  • Once the scan has completed, there will be a button located on the bottom of the screen named Save report
  • Click Save report.
  • Save the report .txt file to your desktop or a location where you can find it easily.

Post back here with a new HJT log, and the Ewido scan log.

Thanks.

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