HELP! Any Microsoft experts here? MS Explorer sessions keep crashing...

[Radio_Lady]

This has been going on for several weeks. I'll be working along with Windows Explorer and suddenly, everything freezes. The programs stop and I'm stuck with CTRL-ALT-DELETE and I'm out at the desktop again. This is happening more and more frequently.

I am using Mozilla Firefox for many things, but sometimes I HAVE to use MS Explorer. (Or as some DUer called it, "MS EXPLODER" -- exactly!)

I've saved the "information" for the last three crashes. Do you recognize these files that are supposedly sent to Microsoft in an "error report"? They all seem to have the same format.

If you know anything about this, or can direct me to the correct DU forum or Microsoft forum (Heaven forbid!), I would very much appreciate it.

Here are the last part of the files each time:

C:\******\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER5c8e.dir00\iexplore.exe.mdmp
C:\******\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER5c8e.dir00\appcompat.txt

Next crash:
C:\******\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER95ab.dir00\iexplore.exe.mdmp
C:\******\LOCALS~1\Temp\WER95ab.dir00\appcompat.txt

Another crash:

C:\******\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERb2c6.dir00\iexplore.exe.mdmp
C:\******\LOCALS~1\Temp\WERb2c6.dir00\appcompat.txt

I have no clue what is going on. All my Microsoft updates are current; I'm using Windows XP Office.

Thanks if you can help.

Warm regards,

Radio_Lady

[mcscajun]

1. Post this to the Computer Help & Support Group (LINK)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

The first file you listed is a memory dump for the report back to Microshaft, the second is about application compability.

You'll find help at the link above.

[Radio_Lady]

2. Thanks, mcscajun. I forgot about that forum.

[Fozzledick]

3. Just an educated guess

Those reporting files seem innocent enough, but the crashes make me suspect a possible browser-hijack attempt. I would recommend installing and running the latest versions of Ad-Aware and Spybot to see if they recognize any obvious trojans.

[mcscajun]

4. I second that. And if they don't find it, There's always "Hijack This"

which is specifically directed toward Browser Hijack attempts. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Ad-Aware and Spybot are available for free at www.download.com -- and the folks in the Computer Help forum may have some other, more specific ideas.

[Radio_Lady]

9. Thanks, mcscajun. I have both Spybot and Ad-Aware.

I'm down for the count -- back soon.

[Radio_Lady]

8. I'll try it. It's clear I'm not going to get any WORK DONE TONIGHT.

Thanks. I did install an brief update of some add-on today.

I'll have to check it. My software engineer husband, who usually sits to my right, is out in the garden right now.

I think I'll get some white roses tonight!

[acmejack]

5. What do the first two lines of the error message say?

edit: or is that all that you get?

[Radio_Lady]

10. The error message in gray and white says something like:

The program has stopped running.

Send error report to Microsoft.

Technical details --

etc.

I just got a more important looking message about serious error.

It directed me to a page about:

How to Use the Roll Back Driver Feature in Windows XP. Looks like something new since January 2006.

[Greyhound]

6. I'm sorry to hear of your problems

What this looks like is the browser is causing an OS failure. You're getting minidumps from an application that is incompatible with, presumably, IE, hardly uncommon.

What do you "HAVE to use MS Explorer/Exploder" for? I am sure there alternatives and they usually work better.

[acmejack]

7. Explorer is not the same as Internet explorer.

Try dumping the internet explorer temp files by going to tools and the selection to delete temporary files should be right there (Might be under Options, I don't use IE). Dump history & temporary files and see if that helps.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Well, I guess I mean MS Internet Explorer, the browser.

Not familiar with other Explorer...

I'll try a bunch of things and get back to you folks.

Thanks for being there tonight.

[billyskank]

21. Actually, it is the same

they tied IE into the operating system as of Windows 98. That is what the DOJ anti-trust suit was about. The Explorer that you use to browse your filesystem is actually IE masquerading as Windows Explorer as it used to be (Windows 95 and earlier, and NT 4.0 and earlier on the other branch).

[Radio_Lady]

11. Greyhound, I cannot compose in my email system, which is net mail

from Comcast.net. I know I might go over to another email, but I'm used to this one... (ain't habit a wonderful thing?)

The Compose page loses the toolbar for editing features which allow me to edit text -- choose and rescale fonts, highlight, bold, italicize, insert picture, etc.

Comcast said that IE supports it and Firefox does not. I contacted Comcast about this a few months ago.

[IsIt1984Yet]

13. This: "ppcompat.txt" leads me to believe to have a compatibility issue

with another application. It probably overwrote some .dll's that Explorer is using. Do you recall when it specifically started happening and whether you installed software or hardware around that time?

You may benefit from installing all of the Internet Explorer updates, they are seperate from the Operating System updates, or re-installing IE altogether.

Are you running IE 6 or the beta 7?

Here's download area for 6: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/downloads/critical/ie6sp1/default.mspx

[Radio_Lady]

16. I'm running IE 6 -- my husband tried 7 Beta and hated it.

Thanks for the link. I'll do it again, but I think I just did it three hours ago. You're all great to help me with this in the midst of your busy evening!

[IsIt1984Yet]

20. A-Ha.... you HAD IE 7 installed??

That is what could have done the damage. Did the problems start after reverting back to 6?

[blogslut]

14. Did you download Hijackthis?

It's very helpful for detecting and eliminating BHOs (browser hijackers).

Also, get this: CCleaner (the C stands for Crap)
http://www.ccleaner.com

One accumulates a lot of crap on one's comp. I love CCLeaner. It just works. :)

[Radio_Lady]

15. UPDATE: 10 PM. I hope I'm back in business.

Blogslut, you have the neatest stuff. CrapCleaner? I've got to see that.

Meanwhile, I dumped my Temp Internet Files, my history, and ran Ad-Aware and Spybot, as well as Norton System Works (WinDoctor). These programs found a lot of junk, but who knows what the real causes of this are?

I plan to run Mozilla Firefox, but still have the problem with my email (I've figured out how to Open IE in New Window to get to my mail.)

That will have to be my workaround for a while. I'll consider some other email systems when the summer is over. One of the good things for us is that Comcast Email is available remotely while we travel. That was not the case with Outlook Express at least the last time I looked.

Good night and good luck.

Radio_Lady

[Radio_Lady]

17. Blogslut, my husband says, "Get off that @#$% computer... and

watch TV with me!" I didn't get to Crap Cleaner and Hijack This. Sorry.... but thanks again.

Gotta go now........................................

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. Seriously, just dump Explorer and switch to Firefox.

Even if you "need" Explorer for you comcast email, I would switch to Firefox and then do one of three things...

1. Use Explorer only to check your email.
2. If Comcast offers POP access, use something like MS Entourage or MS Outlook for my email (I use Mail, but that's only for Apple computers). For PCs, I prefer entourage over outlook.
3. Switch my email to gmail. I love gmail. You get several gigs of storage, too. In fact, I actually use my gmail account as a file backup system. You need an invite for an account though, but if you want, I'll send you one.

[mcscajun]

19. Oulook is as full of security holes as the rest of Microshaft suite,

maybe more.

Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail program is highly recommended. :)