My DELL won't BOOT UP.... : 1186

Thanks Jay B... unfortunately, not an option at this time. Some in another support forum suggested this as a fix. what do you guys think?

This problem is usually buttociated with damage, or more likely, version conflict with respect to Explorer-Internet Explorer "shell" files. Often it occurs after a bad IE update or after some newly installed program replaces one of those files.

The approach taken to fixing it depends on how much time you want to spend and how adventurous and computer competent you are.

The quickest method is often just a Windows overinstall. But there is another one that often works, though it is not necessarily faster. This is to boot with a different shell program, not explorer.exe, and remove Internet Explorer, going back to a previous version; or update IE, which is sometimes possible.

If you decide to try the overinstall,, you need to keep Windows from trying to keep the current version, and there is a special command line to run before overinstalling.

If you want to try the more adventuorous way, here it is:

Boot to a command prompt using the Startup Menu.

cd windows edit system.ini

Look for the shell=explorer.exe line under the Boot header and modify it to read: shell=winfile.exe or shell=progman.exe

Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot.

Now you should be in a Windows 3.1 environment.

edit best results have been obtained by first trying to re-run IE setup rather than removing first. See the thumbnail attachment for the location.

note once you have either removed IE or re-run setup, you must re-edit system.ini to change the shell back to explorer.exe. You can do this in and you can make and save the change there.

If you want to try removing or repairing IE:

Try removing Internet Explorer.

If it fails, try running it, you will find iexplore.exe in the internet explorer programs folder, indicated with DOS shortnames. Or find a favorites shortcut and launch it. You may find yourself connected to the internet. You can try going to the Internet Explorer HomePage:

and getining the latest version.

IF you want to overinstall, boot to a command prompt first and enter this line:

ren c:-windows-system-iemigrat.dll iemigrat.old

for what it's worth....

Worth a shot?

Thank You

DAVID