This infected XP system was strange.

After starting the PC, and logging in, all I get is a blank desktop (it actually has a backdrop picture, but nothing else).

There is no taskbar, no desktop icons, and and right click on the desktop generates no popup menu.

All I can do is ctrl-alt-del to run task manager.

I then try to run explorer, but I get the message:

windows cannot find c:windowsexplorer.exe blah blah blah

I hit browse, and take a look into the windows folder, and find explorer.exe just sitting there, together with explorer(2).exe

I try running explorer(2).exe and it starts windows explorer, but nothing else… Normally, starting explorer manually, should also start the taskbar, etc… not not in this case.

I use the “currently running” explorer to double-click on explorer.exe, but I still get the “windows cannot find c:windowsexplorer.exe” etc etc

I try reimage.com (I have a trial version, so I’ve been waiting for a stuffed PC to try it out), but it fails to fix the problem.

OK, back to the usual way of fixing things:

I remove the HDD, and scan it from the office PC. I finds about 10 infections, and clean them up.

I put the HDD back in the PC, but the mysterious explorer.exe still refuses to work.

I start searching the net for solutions.

For once, I find many solutions… too many solutions… and none of them work until I eventually find:

run regedit

go to: HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Optionsexplorer.exe

rename the explorer.exe entry to something like explorer.exx

reboot PC

Problem solved!