explorer application error

[sbruce45]

I just got a new Dell E510 with Media Center XP SP2. A week after getting it, a day after I got DSL, I started getting an error from Dr Watson, about once a day, randomly (no special activity that I initiated). The start of one of the reports is:

Application exception occurred:
App: C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE (pid=1556)
When: 8/9/2006 @ 22:59:10.234
Exception number: 80000007

I can't do anything except respond to Dr Watson and use the Task Manager. After pressing 'don't send' or 'send' then, I go to the Task Manager. There are 2 entries for Dr. Watson. If I terminate the Dr Watson entry that uses more memory, then the system works again. Both entries remain in the task manager list unless I also terminate the other entry.

For a firewall, I use the free Zone Alarm, and for anti-virus I use Avast. I've run both AdAware and SpyBot. These problems started before I allowed automatic OS updates, and had done no manual ones.

The task list when this occurred with not much activity is

*----> Task List <----*
0 System Process
4 System
588 smss.exe
640 csrss.exe
668 winlogon.exe
712 services.exe
724 lsass.exe
928 Ati2evxx.exe
944 svchost.exe
1084 svchost.exe
1180 svchost.exe
1224 svchost.exe
1364 svchost.exe
1436 Error 0xD0000022
1556 Explorer.EXE
1960 spoolsv.exe
268 aswUpdSv.exe
284 ashServ.exe
328 ehRecvr.exe
376 ehSched.exe
728 svchost.exe
1732 mcrdsvc.exe
2324 dllhost.exe
2412 ashMaiSv.exe
2480 ashWebSv.exe
2732 alg.exe
3012 ehtray.exe
3024 stsystra.exe
3100 DMXLauncher.exe
3108 DLACTRLW.EXE
3132 issch.exe
3140 winpatrol.exe
3148 ashDisp.exe
3160 VERIZO~1.EXE
3180 Error 0xD0000022
3264 ehmsas.exe
3292 DSAgnt.exe
3348 DLG.exe
3396 cmisrv.exe
3624 vzOpenUIServer.exe
3824 wuauclt.exe
160 svchost.exe
1544 drwtsn32.exe


Does anyone have an idea what this error is about, and what can be done short of repairing or re-installing the OS?


Thanks

 

[kitty500cat]

Does Windows Explorer (i.e. My Computer) or the desktop ever act wierdly? If they do, it may be b/c of the thing that Dr. Watson reported. If you never had a problem w/either of them, however, it could be that Dr. W is having a problem. What happens if you uninstall Dr. W, or is it too much trouble?
good luck, hope it works out for you
kitty500cat

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Hello and welcome to Techspot.

Before attempting a repair/reinstall of the OS, go and read this thread HERE.

Post a HJT log as an attachment into this thread and I`ll take a look and see if you have any nasties on your system.

Regards Howard :wave: :wave:

 

[kitty500cat]

Whoops, I didn't see the part in there about the fact that you have to terminate the one thing or the system won't work right. I don't know then, I'll let others take over.
kitty500cat

 

[sbruce45]

Thanks Howard. I am not at that system now. I'll run HJT later or possibly late this evening.

As to the question of kitty500cat, nothing else weird happens. Everything else is good.

 

[sbruce45]

I've run HJT and there were no check marks. Nothing looks strange to me. (Just surprised at some missing files for Avast.) The log is attached.

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Have HJT fix these two entries.

O2 - BHO: Verizon Broadband Toolbar - {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D0FC-E57AF4D5FA7D} - C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\vzbb.dll

O3 - Toolbar: Verizon Broadband Toolbar - {4E7BD74F-2B8D-469E-D0FC-E57AF4D5FA7D} - C:\WINDOWS\DOWNLO~1\vzbb.dll

Other than that, your HJT log is clean.

As for the Avast file missing entries. It`s known that HJT sometimes get`s this wrong on 023 entries. However, just to be on the safe side, you could always reinstall Avast.

Regards Howard

 

[sbruce45]

Howard,

Instead I uninstalled the Verizon Toolbar and the Google Toolbar. Zone Alarm had asked that the Google Toolbar be removed when it was installed, but I guess it restored it afterwards. Didn't really want either.

I would doubt that these toolbars would cause the error I get, but we'll see.
I expect I will still have the problem. I do not use IE very often; just when Opera can't handle a site.

Thanks,

Bruce

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Maybe you should disable Dr Watson as per this Microsoft article.

Regards Howard

 

[sbruce45]

Howard,

It's been over 2 days since I had the failure. It looks like the failure was because of some conflict with one of those 2 toolbars, even though I don't run IE much.
I still have Dr Watson running.

Thanks.