BleepingComputer.com: Serious File Deletion Problem & Windows Explorer Crashes!

HI guys im having a serious problem with my computer. I tried to rename a file earlier and did. I changed the file extension accidentally, and as soon as it saved the problems started! A message popped up saying rundll32 has stopped working, then about 3 seconds later Windows explorer has stopped working. The messages keep just parrading on. I can not acces start menu bar, or anything related to windows explorer. I know this file has to be the problem but I cannot delete it!. Every program i use to try to get at the file explorer crashes and restarts and im back where i started. I need a way to delete this file because i basically cant use my computer!! I tried using command prompt but I dont know how to delete a file on the desktop using it. Your help would be appreciated! Thanks, Josh

Hello ilovesd90macs and welcome,

If Explorer crashes and you can't get to the start menu you can press CTRL+ALT+DEL this will bring up the Task Manager click New Task and type explorer.exe this will restart explorer.

To delete the file, firstly, what is the file? is it a system file? Or is it a user created file?
If you want to delete the file using command prompt. use the dir command to list all the directories in the location the prompt is pointing to. Then the cd command to change directory i.e cd Documents and settings. then the del command. i.e del random file.

If the file refuses to go quietly then you can use Unlocker this tool will unlock the file from the process that is using the file and allow it to be deleted.

nigglesnush85, on Jul 6 2008, 06:07 PM, said:

OK so here is the deal. I can restart explorer, but it crashes within a second. The file is a user created file. I tried deleting the file through command prompt, but it freezes command prompt . I also tried to get the unlicker but after its downloaded I cant acces it

What file are you trying to delete? Have you tried starting in safe mode? Or logging in using a different account?

nigglesnush85, on Jul 6 2008, 08:47 PM, said:

Its just some stupid video clip. I did try in safe mode, explorer.exe still crashes when i try to do anything there too. It starts crashing as soon as I turn the computer on. I restart it and 2 seconds later it crashes again.

That is strange, a video shouldn't be causing this sort of behaviour unless it had a virus embedded within it.

If you press the windows key + R and type eventvwr.msc

Look through each of the categories can you see any errors and warnings?

You can use a Live Linux distribution, or a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD (free here: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ ) in order to access the file and delete it.