I get "Error loading Explorer.exe. You must reinstall Windows" when I start up my laptop, which has Windows ME (same message starting in Safe Mode).
I was able to start it using the startup disk. Ran scandisk/all/surface and found no problems or errors.
Then I tried reinstall Windows ME using the CD that came with the laptop. The system goes thru the ScanDisk process (no errors found), then it opens up the Windows Millennium Edition Setup. I follow the steps for setup, but then it tells me "NOT ENOUGH DISK SPACE" it's available to install Windows. I need to free more disk space by removing some programs, but I can not access the Control Panel.
HOW DO I DELETE PROGRAMS/FILES TO FREE DISK SPACE USING DOS (after I starting the computer using the startup disk)?!?
***UPDATE***
Went thru www.microsoft.com support and followed these directions (see below) and nothing has changed (still getting same error loading Explorer.exe message):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299313
SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to start Windows, you may receive the following error message:
Error loading Explorer.exe.
You must reinstall Windows.
When you click OK, a black screen appears and you are unable to start Windows.
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CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the Explorer.exe Windows system file is missing or corrupted.
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RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, replace the Explorer.exe file with a new copy from your Windows CD-ROM (or other installation media). To do this, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your version of Windows.
Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
1. Restart the computer by using a Windows Me startup disk.For additional information about creating a Windows Me startup disk, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
271823 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/271823/EN-US/) How to Create a Windows Me Startup Disk Manually
2. In the Microsoft Windows Me startup dialog box that appears, type 2, and then press ENTER.
3. Record the drive letter assigned to your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
4. Type Ext, and then press ENTER.
The Microsoft Extract Command Line Helper starts.
5. At the Please enter the path to the Windows CAB files (a: message, type drive:\win9x (where drive is the drive letter that you recorded in step 3), and then press ENTER. For example, type E:\win9x, and then press ENTER.
NOTE: The CAB files may also be stored in the following location:
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL
6. At the Please enter the name(s) of the file(s) you want to extract: message, type Explorer.exe, and then press ENTER.
7. At the Please enter the path to extract to ('Enter' for current directory): message, type C:\Windows, and then press ENTER.
8. At the Is this okay? (y/n) message, type y, and then press ENTER.
The file is extracted to the specified directory.
9. Remove the Windows Me startup disk, and then restart the computer.
I was able to start it using the startup disk. Ran scandisk/all/surface and found no problems or errors.
Then I tried reinstall Windows ME using the CD that came with the laptop. The system goes thru the ScanDisk process (no errors found), then it opens up the Windows Millennium Edition Setup. I follow the steps for setup, but then it tells me "NOT ENOUGH DISK SPACE" it's available to install Windows. I need to free more disk space by removing some programs, but I can not access the Control Panel.
HOW DO I DELETE PROGRAMS/FILES TO FREE DISK SPACE USING DOS (after I starting the computer using the startup disk)?!?
***UPDATE***
Went thru www.microsoft.com support and followed these directions (see below) and nothing has changed (still getting same error loading Explorer.exe message):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299313
SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to start Windows, you may receive the following error message:
Error loading Explorer.exe.
You must reinstall Windows.
When you click OK, a black screen appears and you are unable to start Windows.
Back to the top
CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the Explorer.exe Windows system file is missing or corrupted.
Back to the top
RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, replace the Explorer.exe file with a new copy from your Windows CD-ROM (or other installation media). To do this, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your version of Windows.
Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
1. Restart the computer by using a Windows Me startup disk.For additional information about creating a Windows Me startup disk, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
271823 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/271823/EN-US/) How to Create a Windows Me Startup Disk Manually
2. In the Microsoft Windows Me startup dialog box that appears, type 2, and then press ENTER.
3. Record the drive letter assigned to your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
4. Type Ext, and then press ENTER.
The Microsoft Extract Command Line Helper starts.
5. At the Please enter the path to the Windows CAB files (a: message, type drive:\win9x (where drive is the drive letter that you recorded in step 3), and then press ENTER. For example, type E:\win9x, and then press ENTER.
NOTE: The CAB files may also be stored in the following location:
C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\INSTALL
6. At the Please enter the name(s) of the file(s) you want to extract: message, type Explorer.exe, and then press ENTER.
7. At the Please enter the path to extract to ('Enter' for current directory): message, type C:\Windows, and then press ENTER.
8. At the Is this okay? (y/n) message, type y, and then press ENTER.
The file is extracted to the specified directory.
9. Remove the Windows Me startup disk, and then restart the computer.