BleepingComputer.com: Explorer.exe crashes at start-up

Here's my problem on an HP Pavilion a445w Desktop running Windows XP sp 3 :

I encountered a virus (from an ms office 2007 file) and cleaned my computer. I ran Panda, kaspersky, spybot, ccleaner, ad-aware and malewarebytes. I also ran smitfraudfix and I come out clean. At first though they all told me EXPLORER.exe was infected. NOT explorer.exe (not sure if they were the same or not one was in large caps the other was not, but I had both running at the same time). Anyways Panda deleted the EXPLORER.exe file on me.

Now when I start or restart my computer DEP pops up with an error and tells me it closed explorer.exe due to an error. I can't view my folders or the start menu. All I have is the desktop background and the mouse arrow. I use ctr-alt-dl and shut down explorer.exe. If I give it a few minutes it pops up a thing saying it wants me to send the error report. I then go into the task manager and choose new task and type in explorer.exe. After doing this the start menu and everything comes up, disappears then comes back up for good. Now on top of all that it will not read my dvd drives either, and trying to uninstall and reinstall them does not work.

I've tried running registry repair programs but it made it worse so I restored what the program did. I do not have any boot disks or recovery disks. They did not come with my computer I was supposed to make them. I tried to but when I did this years ago it wouldn't do it. It kept telling me to insert a cd for disk #2 and I never even made disk #1. I tried to order recovery disks but microsoft doesn't make them for my computer. I've also run chkdsk to see if that would fix the problem and it didn't.

I'm at the end of my rope and I'm really trying not to do a full restore if I don't have to. I probably will have to but I'd really rather not since I can't even burn anything off my computer right now.

Thanks for the help!

When you open Task Manager to type explorer.exe, what other processes are running?

This post has been edited by garmanma: 23 March 2009 - 03:26 PM
Reason for edit: fix typo

This is the task manager:

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This is the error:

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I've tried the debug and it doesn't work either.

ok: A friend sent me a thing called DeleteLowerAndUpperFiltersForCDDevices.msi and told me to use it for my dvd drives. So far they are working and being recognized by the computer.

But I am still have the same explorer.exe problem.

This post has been edited by Katra8: 21 March 2009 - 10:43 PM

Post a screenshot of Task Manager with the Applications window open

Deleting upper/lower filter keys is for when the optical drives are missing from Device Manager or My Computer

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As you can see not much, I tried disabling the DEP program for explorer but I still got the error message.

This post has been edited by Katra8: 22 March 2009 - 08:36 PM

I believe that you are still infected
Seeing how you used a bunch of scan tools already, without success I would prepare and post a HJT log

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Please read the pinned topic titled "Preparation Guide For Use Before Posting A Hijackthis Log". If you cannot complete a step, then skip it and continue with the next. In Step 6 there are instructions for downloading and running DDS which will create a Pseudo HJT Report as part of its log.

When you have done that, post your log in the HijackThis Logs and Malware Removal forum, NOT here, for assistance by the HJT Team Experts. A member of the Team will walk you through, step by step, on how to clean your computer. If you post your log back in this thread, the response from the HJT Team will be delayed because your post will have to be moved. This means it will fall in line behind any others posted that same day.

Start a new topic, give it a relevant title and post your log along with a brief description of your problem, a summary of any anti-malware tools you have used and a summary of any steps that you have performed on your own. An expert will analyze your log and reply with instructions advising you what to fix. After doing this, we would appreciate if you post a link to your log back here so we know that your getting help from the HJT Team.

Please be patient. It may take a while to get a response because the HJT Team members are very busy working logs posted before yours. They are volunteers who will help you out as soon as possible. Once you have made your post and are waiting, please DO NOT "bump" your post or make another reply until it has been responded to by a member of the HJT Team. Generally the staff checks the forum for postings that have 0 replies as this makes it easier for them to identify those who have not been helped. If you post another response there will be 1 reply. A team member, looking for a new log to work may assume another HJT Team member is already assisting you and not open the thread to respond.

This post has been edited by garmanma: 23 March 2009 - 03:45 PM