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cannot open the start menu

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by lsw

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I have a laptop running ME that had some serious virus problems. I have gotten the viruses cleaned up and now when I try to open the start menu I get the message: Explorer has caused an error in kernel32.dll this program will now close, or I get thesame message with shell32.dll in it. I have reinstalled windows twice and it still comes up with the same thing. Any help would be appreciated.

3 replies

by thechas

At this point, my recomendation is to back up any critical files.

Boot up from a Windows Me startup disk.

Run fdisk /mbr from the DOS prompt.

Run fdisk, and delete ALL partitions and logical drives.

Reboot.

Run fdisk again, and create the partition(s) you desire.

Reboot.

Format drive C: with the 'S' switch
format c: /s

Place the Me or restore CD in the CD drive.
Run setup, and have a clean install of Me and all of your aplication software.

What is happening, is that some Windows files and/or the registry are so corrupt from the virus that even re-installing Windows over itself cannot correct the problem.

On a re-install, Windows only corrects any "obvious" errors that it finds.
If certian files report the correct date, size, and revision they are skipped over.

A fresh install to a fully cleaned drive is your best option.

Chas

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