Explorer.exe

[simono]

Hello people,

Simono here with a new dilemma to tackle if possible. "Explorer.exe" and sometimes "start" are stating there still running and are stopping the shutdown process. Along with the alert comes a message in a box saying: "0x100028c2.... memory not found, click OK to end this program or process". That's not exact but the numbers are... I wrote those down. Seems like there different every time anyway. I read that a shell .exe crash could be the reason for the hanging. I was wondering, how can you find which one it is? I have a program that will tell me all the .exe I have but I'm not sure what I'm looking for...

Any ideas? I can also copy the exact message in the error box if need-be.

Simono

 

[simono]

I'm sorry, when I re-read this post... I see that it might be a little hard to follow so I'll be a-bit clearer...
I've only been working with computers for about 3yrs. and am attending ITT at this time for a degree in informational technology and networking. I'm learning

When shutting down my e-machine, OS-Vista.. 32bit with 2GB. There is still things running that won't allow the system to to shut down unless I close them manually. These change back-and-forth from "Explorer.exe" to "Start", with a little box next to the word Start. I think the little box means .exe.... I'm not sure

A error box comes along with it... I am going to shutdown and write what it says and continue this post...

Simono

Here's what the error box says:
"The instruction at 0x025128c2 referenced memory at 0x025128c2. The memory could not be read.... click on OK to terminate the program."

If anyone needs more info, I would be happy to give it.

Thanks

 

[niemiro]

Hello there!

Sorry for the late reply! I think you know how I found it Thanks for that!

The error message you are getting is because the computer is shutting down. If you ever try to start a program after shutdown has been initiated, it is very likely to create this error. Create a batch file on your Desktop. Click Start > Shutdown and then IMMEDIATELTY run the batch file. You will get this message (a similar one). This is just to prove the point about the memory.

Either explorer.exe is not shutting down cleanly, or something actually starts under the explorer.exe process, after shutdown has initiated.

I am still slightly confused. Are you getting the grey screen saying that there are still programs running, and do you want to continue with the shutdown, and the things showing are explorer.exe or start? This is strange. And then you have funnyness on the task bar. This is normal.

Thanks!

Richard

 

[simono]

Hi niemiro, Thank you for your reply...

Yes, the grey screen appears when restarting. If need-be, I can shut down the system without a restart to see if the same thing happens. I think it will but I could be wrong.
When the grey screen appears, most of the time it reads this:

The following programs are sill running, "Explorer.exe"....(sometimes it just says start in-place of Explorer.exe). This program is preventing your computer from restarting. To close these programs and restart your computer, click Restart now.

There's a red button- "Restart now"

And a blue button- "Cancel"

Along with all of this is that other separate error box, stating:

"The instruction at 0x025128c2 referenced memory at 0x025128c2. The memory could not be read.... click on OK to terminate the program."

This number: "0x025128c2" changes every time... the last time it was "0x03a728c2." Probably what it's referencing through.

I read it might be a application shell.exe crashing but I don't know...

Thanks so much for your time.

Oh... not sure what you mean about the funnyness on the task bar... but heck, that's probably happening too...lol

 

[niemiro]

Hmmm. I understand exactly now. Thanks for taking the time for walking me through it. Don't worry about the memory reference, it will keep changing. I would think possibly a shell extension (not quite shell.exe!) Can you please confirm whether the same thing happens in Safe Mode or not? Thanks!

 

[simono]

Sorry niemiro, I had some things to tend to which took longer than I thought.
I started in safe mode and the grey screen flashes like it's going to show the same message, that's it. I restarted a couple of times and once, It looked like it was printing something across where it usually shows: Explorer.exe- This program is preventing your computer from restarting. But it never finished it and faded away and restarted. Backing up a-bit... just at the time I ticked the safe mode dot in msconfig and went to restart for the first time, (at this time, I don't think I was in safe mode yet.... am I right?) I clicked restart and this is the first time I've seen both of these messages on the same screen at the same time... it read:

Start- This program is preventing your computer from restarting.

and

Explorer.exe- "Application Error" It never said: "Application Error" before.

I like to find free apps, and I have alot of them... most of them I got from the free apps place on this site but, for the last few days I've been cleaning house and getting rid of alot of these because of what I've read. I've read that the cause of my problem might be an "Application Error" (.exe or shell or whatever) crashing. I don't know if this is the deal but I figured... what the heck, I don't need all of those apps and never even use half of them. I was on a free app kick for awhile... lol.

Hope this help you... Oh, How does one find the specific app that is failing or erroring?

Todd

 

[niemiro]

To identify a "problem" application, please follow the clean boot procedure: How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

start.exe is usually a good program, especially if you have a lot of programs! However, it wouldn't hurt to run an MBAM scan, just to check:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware a.k.a. MBAM - Download Free Version (freeware) - Homepage
Why? Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is very good at removing the zlob trojan, virtumonde, and most other current infections. This single tool has replaced multiple tools that have been required in the past.

• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, confirm a check mark is placed next to the following:
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.

When completed, a log will open in Notepad. If you need to create a new topic, please paste this log with it.

Note: Some infections will prevent MBAM from running. If MBAM won't run, try renaming the file mbam-setup.exe to a random name, and then try again.

Extra Note: Do not run a full scan with MBAM. It is not required or needed, and in fact makes our job tougher.

Thanks!

Richard

P.S. Thank you so much for the +rep. It was really appreciated!

 

[simono]

Thank you for your advice... I have used Malwarebytes for about a year and a half but haven't ran it in about a week... thinking my problem was elsewhere. I should know better to first check for viruses/malware. I ran it a it found nothing... sending the report also.

I haven't tried the clean boot procedure yet. I wanted to get this report to you and something else I thought of. I'll try it after I type this.

I just realized something... and I must be daff for not putting 2 and 2 together. What I did about a week and a half ago, just around the same time I started having this problem was to move alot of files of C: to D: drive all at once. I have alot of room on D: and these were apps I downloaded over time. Now, the way I did this screwed every program up to where if you wanted to use them, it would say stuff like: can't find the library, files, .exe, or other things I can't remember. Of-course, all the shortcuts were no good but I ended up deleting everything I moved. I have downloaded some of the stuff back and some, I decided I just do not need. I'm still finding things that were intertwined somehow with those programs that are useless now, so I just delete them. I know that this wasn't to smart and I should of moved those files/programs one at a time... believe me, I won't do something so stupid again. I don't know if this helps any...

Todd