Explorer not loading on log in

[goobernoodles]

I've had numerous computers pop up with this issue in the past 24 hours. Windows randomly will not load explorer on log in. I can start explorer manually using task manager, however, obviously this is not ideal.

It seems like malware would be the culprit, but only one machine had anything, which was Win32.Trojan.Agent, and it was removed successfully.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: goobernoodles
I've had numerous computers pop up with this issue in the past 24 hours. Windows randomly will not load explorer on log in. I can start explorer manually using task manager, however, obviously this is not ideal.

It seems like malware would be the culprit, but only one machine had anything, which was Win32.Trojan.Agent, and it was removed successfully.

1. if multiple computers in the last 24 hours have you tried a system restore point on one of them?
2. does explorer start correctly in safemode?
3. msconfig clean boot?
4. is explorer frozen loading, or is the .exe not showing in the process list?
5. is it throwing events during boot?


#2 & #1 are of particular interest.


also note: trojans/rootkits are bad news. The fact it was "removed" does not offset the concerns of it being found in the first place.