Active Desktop errors are back (and worse!)

I had this information in another thread, but I
thought the problem was fixed. (I thought wrong!)
I guess I should start a new post...????
****************************
I have a Dell with XP. Recently, I started getting
an "active desktop" error message. (It says that my
active desktop has been turned off as a precaution.)
It gives a few reasons as to why this warning occurs,
but none of them apply. It does it out of the blue,
now, almost constantly!
It asks that if I have changed my desktop to a web site,
or recently added something to the desktop
then I need to re-do the situation. But, I haven't
done either of those things, this time!
I am also bombarded with windows error messages that
everything I open has experienced an unexpected error
and must close. Then, I send an error report to
microsoft. (I'm sure that error report really helps! lol) Anyway, this happens when I just open "My Pictures", or "My Documents", "My Music" and even the
Start/Search (Search Results page!) Each time, that
aggravating Error sound blasts out! Sometimes, I
can just be looking through the above mentioned files
and suddenly, that hideous sound again, and then nothing....absolutely nothing. This is very annoying,
and if anybody knows what I should do besides throw this computer in the ditch out back, PLEASE help me.
Should I re-install XP??????????????
P.S. I have run CHKDSK, and sfc/ scannow. I found this
information on another site and am wondering if I should do it. (Please advise.)

[From the Start menu, select Search, select All Files and Folders.
Select More Advanced Options and place a checkmark beside Search Hidden Files and Folders option.
Ensure that Search System Folders and Search Subfolders are also checked.
In the All or Part of the File Name box, type ie.inf
In the Look In drop-down menu, select C: or the letter of the hard drive that contains the Windows folder.
Click the Search button.
In the search results pane, find the ie.inf file located in Windows\Inf folder.
Right click the ie.inf file and click Install on the context menu.
Reboot the computer when the file copy process is complete.]
Jenn

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What I would do.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 26, 2004 10:56AM PDT

My thoughts about this.

1. You may find IEFIX to clear up some of the errors.

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/IEFIX.htm

2. You may not be aware that PARASITES exploit ActiveX through Internet Explorer. The next link is an article which notes the Anti-Parasite Suite (tools) that I endorse.

http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/

3. After reading item 2 and links, my continuing advice is to avoid using Internet Explorer when possible. Try Firefox?

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

4. All the usual tools are noted and a browser without as many holes, but always get a second opinion virus scan. Here's one.

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Best of luck fixing it,

Bob

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Re: What I would do

by Jenn22 Jul 26, 2004 11:21AM PDT

Bob,
Thanks for the suggestions.

I tried the info. I had found on the other site.
(about copying ie.inf)
and couldn't get the appropriate files
to copy. So, I downloaded and ran IEFIX,
as you suggested. It WAS able to copy the files!
(I hope it has fixed the problem!) I'll soon find out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I agree with you on your "Anti-parasite suite".
and regulary scan with Housecall, and Panda.
I have AVG free edition. (Plus Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware,
and Spysweeper!)
I've had Firefox, but went back to IE...maybe I'll
change back one day...when I've had my fill of
all these lovely viruses!!!lol
Thanks, again.
Jenn

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Re: Active Desktop errors are back (and worse!)

by Cursorcowboy Jul 26, 2004 10:01PM PDT

Then, I send an error report to
microsoft. (I'm sure that error report really helps! lol)

1. Error Reporting that is enabled by default displays an error dialog box prompting the user to indicate whether or not they want to report the problem. When choosing to report the problem, technical information about the problem is collected and then sent to Microsoft over the Internet. If a report is rendered and if a similar problem has been reported by other people and more information is available, a link to that information will be provided the user. Turning it ON or turning it OFF is the user's call. For assistance and resolution, we need to know WHAT cause(s) is/are reported.

a. Were there no links or anything else provided should you submit the report?

b. Please. For your benefit, always report the error information this report contains when wanting our analyses.

2. When a system error occurs, the computer displays a blue screen containing error codes and all computer operations stop. When an illegal operation or other error occurs in a program, that program stops working. System and program errors may be transmitted to Microsoft which allows them to track and address operating system, Windows component, and program errors. Error Reporting configuration is outlined in, [Q310414]:

a. Enable or disable
b. Enable for the operating system
c. Specify the program for which a report is generated
d. Remove programs from the list
e. Send an error report to Microsoft

Thank you.

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(NT) (NT) Re: Thanks

by Jenn22 Jul 28, 2004 11:41AM PDT

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Re: O.K. The problem is still not solved:-( Help!

by Jenn22 Jul 28, 2004 7:55AM PDT

I ran IEFIX, chkdsk, and sfc/ scannow AGAIN.
Still, I get the windows explorer error message
that an "unexpected error has occured" and it must
close. (That's all that is said.) Of course, it is accompanied by the dreaded
xp error (wav) sound, and the screen freezing!
I send the error report, reboot, try the action
again, and the same thing happens.
Someone told me that I had errors in my .dll files.
(That they were copied incorrectly.)?????
Naturally, I don't understand this. I thought the
sfc/ scannow took care of that.
Is there a way to fix this, or should I repair or
reinstall windows xp?
Does anybody know what to do?
Thank you.

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Here's an ongoing Microsoft "issue."

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 28, 2004 8:16AM PDT

It's been a tough issue for me to get Microsoft to buy into the fact that Explorer will crash (and take the desktop with it) if a corrupt MPEG (or other) is clicked. I've seen this happen in Explorer and the Desktop. As an example, we put the corrupt MPEG on a desktop and sure enough, no average user could delete it and NT/2000/XP would fail in odd ways.

So far, the MS response has been "Don't do that."

I share this so that you can look over if you have MPEG, JPG or even MP3 files on your desktop. If so, move them to a folder for now.

Bob

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And Parasites.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 28, 2004 8:18AM PDT

You should also make sure that no pests are on the machine. The usual is...

Adaware, Spybot, Cwshredder and Housecall.

Bob

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Re: Bob, Let me make sure I get it...

by Jenn22 Jul 28, 2004 11:39AM PDT

Are you speaking about using a JPEG image
as your desktop background(which is what I usually
do...I like to use unigue pictures for my desktop.)
or do you just mean keeping the shortcuts to these
files (Mpeg, etc.) on your desktop? Forgive my
ignorance on this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P.S.
Griff had mentioned to me that using large pictures
as my desktop background may cause this error message,
so I switched to the traditional xp backgrounds.
Needless to say, I still get not only the active
desktop warning but all the others I mentioned.
I have scanned and re-scanned for parasites. My system is clean.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks, Jenn

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Bingo.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 28, 2004 11:49AM PDT

That too!

For now, just try a plain backdrop as a test. And move any FILES off the desktop into a folder, even if it's on the desktop. Just so there is not a picture FILE on the desktop either.

Shortcuts should be fine...

Remember we are trying to narrow it down.

-----------------------

New thought. What video driver do you use?

Could it be out of date?

Old thought. What's in the EVENT VIEWER after the error?

Bob

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Jenn, RIGHT Click On The Desktop....

by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Jul 28, 2004 2:24PM PDT

....choose "Properties". When that loads, click on the "Desktop" tab, then, in the "Background" section, scroll to the top of the selections and choose "None". Click on "Apply", then OK.

While you're in the Display Properties area, have you clicked on the "Settings" tab and changed the "Color Quality" section to "Medium 16 bit"? It's worth a try.

See if that helps.

Grif

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Re: Bob and Grif......

by Jenn22 Jul 29, 2004 11:38AM PDT

I changed my desktop and color quality as suggested.
Also, I moved the shortcuts off.
Video drivers are fine. So, we'll see if the
situation improves. If things change, I'll let you
know. Thanks.

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Re: O.K. The problem is still not solved:-( Help!

by Cursorcowboy Jul 28, 2004 10:35PM PDT

I get the windows explorer error message that an "unexpected error has occured" and it must close. (That's all that is said.)

I send the error report, reboot, try the action again, and the same thing happens.

1. Both statement do not tell the entire story IMO. The four words in quotation appear incomplete and I believe there should be further prompts or information, but I could be wrong.

2. I've already explained Error Reporting and you provide no input. Simply sending an error report, rebooting, and trying again FIXES nothing.

3. IMHO, the next thing is "[url=How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)."

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Re: O.K. The problem is still not solved:-( Help!

by Jenn22 Jul 29, 2004 11:34AM PDT

O.k. the full error message is:

"Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

That's it....nothing more....no added instructions...
nada. All I left out was their sad little apology.

And, I know that sending an error report does not fix
a problem...that's why I said, "I'm sure that really helps LOL". In my opinion it doesn't help me much...
I could live with it or live without it. If it continues to become a nuisance, I'll disable it.
I was just explaining the routine of aggravation that
I encounter each time.

I'm going to try changing my desktop background to "none", moving the shortcuts off, and changing to
16 bit color quality. If this doesn't work, I'll try reinstalling Windows XP.
Thanks

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(NT) (NT) Jenn, Let Us Know How It Goes

by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Jul 29, 2004 11:37AM PDT

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Re: O.K. The problem is still not solved:-( Help!

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jul 29, 2004 11:43AM PDT

My bet is on video drivers or some background or some image file that is on the desktop.

The behind the scenese cause is my bet, an old video driver. A peek at the EVENT VIEWER after the crash may reveal new clues.

Bob

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Re: O.K. The problem is still not solved:-( Help!

by Cursorcowboy Jul 29, 2004 9:41PM PDT

What I keep driving at -- and as an example -- please look at the description described in the article "Error Message: Internet Explorer Has Encountered a Problem and Needs to Close (Mshtml.dll) (Q810887)" where additional data may be obtained sometimes. Nothing may be provided on certain errors but I just wanted to be sure since the error reported is pretty generic, as you can see by pursuing this list of MSKB "articles," that contain it.

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Re: O.K. The problem is still not solved:-( Help!

by aztzu Aug 3, 2004 5:03AM PDT

I had all of these problems all the time too. Had compter repair people and they could not fix it. I had a MSN address. As soon as I uninstalled MSN and changed to Earthlink, my problems all quit and my computer has been fine since. My friends had the same problems with MSN.

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Re: Active Desktop errors are back (and worse!)

by rhydonna Jul 30, 2004 3:51PM PDT

Mine has been doing the same thing. I can go for days and nothing happens, then right in the middle of something, and it's not always the same program or anything, a error message comes up that says it's shutting down my computer. And when it comes up, there is nothing you can do. I have also sent messages to MSN and never got a fix back yet. Have you gotten a cure for this yet? I would really appreciate the help. I have a new laptop made by emachines and really like it. We have several computers in the house, but all on different lines and phone numbers. So they don't interfere with each other. Thanks again and GOD BLESS and have a wonderful weekend.
Rhydonna

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Re: Active Desktop errors are back (and worse!)

by Jenn22 Jul 30, 2004 7:43PM PDT

So far, I have changed my desktop background to
a blank picture. (Sometimes a picture that is
too large (Check the KB in properties) will
cause conflict. And, I've removed all icons (except
Anti-spyware/virus) from my desktop, upon recommendation by the folks on the forum. It was also
recommended to check video drivers and clean the system
of all parasites. I've done all that, but so far,
the improvement to my system is minimal. Sorry that
I can't offer much more encouragement! (I may have to
re-install XP.) I'll be sure to post any solution
if I find one!

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