Problem with explorer.exe not loading at login

[mitchems]

I am a newbie to this forum. I have been experiencing a problem with explorer.exe at login.

I have read through the other threads about a similar problem occurring in the Fall of 2007. What I am experiencing is similar to those threads, but the sloutions provided in those threads do not seem to work or apply to my issue. I have some laptops (Dells) that will not load explorer.exe at login - SOMETIMES. The problem is intermitent and I can run explorer.exe manually. I am running Windows XP SP2. Below is the HJT log for one of these laptops. I don't see anything out of the ordinary. The problem occurs in both normal and in safe mode.

HJT Log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 1:01:17 PM, on 2/3/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16762)
Boot mode: Normal

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\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\WLKeeper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\cvpnd.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.2\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe
C:\Pfx Engagement\Common\PFXEngDesktopService.exe
C:\Pfx Engagement\Common\PFXSYNPFTService.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\sqlwriter.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\DellXPM_5515v131\WDM\StacSV.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe
C:\Program Files\UPHClean\uphclean.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\VPTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedhlp.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apoint.exe
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\stsystra.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\ApMsgFwd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\HidFind.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\RIA\Speedlink\RIA-Speedlink.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Pfx Engagement\WM\pfxpdfconvertservice.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=74005
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [vptray] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMANT~1\VPTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Acronis Scheduler2 Service] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedhlp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelZeroConfig] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelWireless] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe" /tf Intel PROSet/Wireless
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\stsystra.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CANON DR2080C SVC] rundll32.exe DR2KSVC.dll,EntryPointUserMessage
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IgfxTray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HotKeysCmds] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Persistence] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [DWQueuedReporting] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\dwtrig20.exe" -t (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [DWQueuedReporting] "C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\DW\dwtrig20.exe" -t (User 'Default user')
O4 - Startup: SpeedlinkV4.1.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: Append to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert link target to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECaptureSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selected links to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppendSelLinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert selection to existing PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIEAppend.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Convert to Adobe PDF - res://C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll/AcroIECapture.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
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
O16 - DPF: {05CA9FB0-3E3E-4B36-BF41-0E3A5CAA8CD8} (Office Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=58813
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {1E3F1348-4370-4BBE-A67A-CC7ED824CA85} (Microsoft Genuine Advantage Self Support Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=82580
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1201632523484
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1201632601968
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {DE1319F8-DE5B-42EB-9407-4067FB8A09FD} - http://wkforms.com/BuildRelease/wkforms/perform%20plus%20III/release/install.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = [removed]
O17 - HKLM\Software\..\Telephony: DomainName = [removed]
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = [removed]
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\Parameters: Domain = [removed]
O20 - Winlogon Notify: GoToAssist - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\508\G2AWinLogon.dll
O23 - Service: Acronis Remote Agent (AcronisAgent) - Acronis - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Agent\agent.exe
O23 - Service: Acronis Scheduler2 Service (AcrSch2Svc) - Acronis - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Cisco Systems, Inc. VPN Service (CVPND) - Cisco Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client\cvpnd.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher (DefWatch) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\DefWatch.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Event Log (EvtEng) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\508\g2aservice.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: PFXEngDesktopService - CCH Tax and Accounting - C:\Pfx Engagement\Common\PFXEngDesktopService.exe
O23 - Service: PFXSYNPFTService - CCH Tax and Accounting - C:\Pfx Engagement\Common\PFXSYNPFTService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Registry Service (RegSrvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Service (S24EventMonitor) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
O23 - Service: SAVRoam (SavRoam) - symantec - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\SavRoam.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec SPBBCSvc (SPBBCSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SPBBC\SPBBCSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Sprint RcAppSvc (SprintRcAppSvc) - PCTEL - C:\Program Files\Sprint\Sprint SmartView\RcAppSvc.exe
O23 - Service: SigmaTel Audio Service (STacSV) - SigmaTel, Inc. - C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\DellXPM_5515v131\WDM\StacSV.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AntiVirus - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec AntiVirus\Rtvscan.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless SSO Service (WLANKEEPER) - Intel(R) Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\WLKeeper.exe

--
End of file - 12074 bytes

Thanks in advance for any help on this. I have updated all the drivers to latest version and we're running Symantec Security as you can see.

[prince-dari]

It would probably help if you explain exactly what you have done to try and fix the problem (Such as running MBAM, and other programs), and if they produce log files, posting them here.

[mitchems]

I have not run MBAM yet. This is a problem on about 1/2 of my machines in my office. It is intermittant. What I have done is the following:

1. I updated all of the drivers, because I thought that early into the load, that could be a problem (video, network, mouse).
2. I ran Symantec scan and have symantec running. That found nothing.
3. I personally don't think it's malware, but the forum advise said post any HJT logs here.
4. I booted to safe mode and got the same problem.
5. I logged in as a different network user and still got the problem.
6. I logged in as a local user - same problem.
7. I turned on verbose startup and didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
8. I deleted the user profile and created a clean one. Thus far I haven't seen the problem, but it is intermittant as I said.

[prince-dari]

So it happens on most of the machines? Well is there anything that has been installed on multiple computers recently, any settings changed, etc, and are all of the machines using the same Network?

Also you could try running MBAM on one of the machines, to see if anything comes up.

[jholland1964]

Just pick ONE machine and let's run through entire clean up with that one machine. Start with MBA-M, allow it to clean everything found.
Reboot
Then run ESET Scanner and do the same.
Reboot.
Then run an new HJT scan and save the log.
Also run HJT and give us an Uninstall List using that program.
We will take a look.

[mitchems]

OK, I will do that. This morning some machines started experiencing BSOD at login. One user said that the problem started when she installed Adobe 8 on the machine. I will do what you request and let you know. Also, has anyone heard of Adobe 8 issues?

Thanks so much.

[jholland1964]

OK, I will do that. This morning some machines started experiencing BSOD at login. One user said that the problem started when she installed Adobe 8 on the machine. I will do what you request and let you know. Also, has anyone heard of Adobe 8 issues?

Thanks so much.

Check these Adobe links concerning BSOD's and Adobe 8

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=324073

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=324073&sliceId=1

[mitchems]

It appears that this might be the cause of the problem. I am testing these steps from removing and reinstalling Adobe Acrobat 8 as I write this. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks so much for taking your time to support me.

[jholland1964]

Hey, that is why we are all here. Hopefully to help and make things easier.
Judy

[mitchems]

I have removed Adobe Acrobat 8 on one of the machines and used this procedure:

http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=333213

Because the uninstaller is worthless. It's rather complex, but it gets rid of adobe comepletely. Thus far, no crashes. It appears that there is a memory conflict with the ATI video driver. I'm going to wait a day or two to make sure no more crashes (since it was intermittant).

For any people who are experiencing explorer.exe problems and BSOD's on a Dell laptop with an ATI driver - adobe could be the culprit. Read the link and see if it all sounds eeriely familiar.

[jholland1964]

Note it also says to check for ATI video driver updates so I would do that also.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/

[mitchems]

Yeah, I did update that. The removal of Adobe reader solved it. Acrobat is ok, Reader was causing the conflict.

Thanks again!

[jholland1964]

glad the problem was solved