Win2K Server lost use of desktop icons and start menu 2

[synergy009]

Here is an exact breakdown of my situation:

Basically the problem I am having is something to do with the Windows Explorer and it is lacking some sort of permission or security from the system, it could also be file system problem.

Double-click a desktop icon: it does not respond (open folders or launch programs or anything), but it might become highlighted because you clicked on it

Right-click: Open and Explore do not work / properties, rename, and delete do

Start Menu: When I select a program it displays in a error OK box with the title Windows Explorer, "Unable to run this command".

The only way that I can run an executable is to open the Run command(which does work) or Task Manager and type the path of the program. To access folders since double clicking inside the explorer window does not work I have to type the name of the folder in the address bar and press enter. I don't know what to do in this situation, it just happens randomly, sometimes it stays for days, other times it all of a sudden disappears. When we can, we restart the machine and it goes away until it decides to come back. So far my list of common programs and possible culprits on faulty machines.

Windows 2000 Server (SP3) <- Microsoft is my #1 culprit j/k
Norton Anti-Virus 7.6 Machines fault with both client and server versions
Retrospect Backup Client 5.6
Explorer.exe versions 5.0 and 5.6

Upgrading explorer to 6.0 w/ service packs could &quot;bandaid&quot; the problem if it stops it, but doesn't give me the cause. If this were an explorer problem I would think I could finder more cases of this and wider support. So far I have been SEARCHING for a clue on this. It is not debilatating to the services of the server (DNS, DHCP, NTP, NAV), but makes using it a pain in the behind.

Retrospect is an unlikely cause but the other two are prime suspects.

Any insight would be more than helpful

Synergy

 

[CharlieJax]

It sounds like you might have the W32.Aplore@mm virus, check out:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.aplore@mm.html

CJ

Don't drink and post, save that for driving home!

 

[synergy009]

We can rule out W32.Aplore@mm virus. I checked the registry and all NAV files are updated. Everything in that respect is in good health. Plus, neither of these machines run AIM or have email on them, which is how Symantec said they get infected. Someone also suggested to check the Microsoft's site article 172223 &quot;Cannot Run shortcuts from the start menu or desktop&quot;, but this problem differs because it deals with the error message &quot;Access to the specified device, path, or file is denied&quot;. But I checked out the registry setting it says to and I am in the clear there too. I am leaning more and more to some flaw or problem with a security setting, but that is just a stab in the dark. And why would it be intermitent (spell?). Still searching...

Synergy

 

[saubrey]

I have the exact same problem with Win2K. I have not yet found a solution...have you?

 

[synergy009]

I am searching day after day and nobody can help me with this situation. What exactly is your situation. What do you think is your culprit software? Are you running Pro or Server? What kind of insight do you have into this?

 

[saubrey]

I am running win2k server. My problem, like yours, is intermittent. Sometimes I can not launch programs and get &quot;Windows Explorer, unable to run this command&quot;. and other times I am able to launch programs. My problem started happening (I think) when I setup a Trust Relationship with an NT 4 server. I will try removing the trust relationship and see if the problem goes away. I am also running Norton Antivirus, so I don't think that I have the W32.Aplore@mm virus...I manually checked for that virus with directions given by Symantec, and I don't think I have it. I will try searching the Microsoft knowledgebase for info...I'm guessing that you already tried this. I'll post any new info that I find

 

[ZKLTSO]

I am having the same problem !
I have just installed the following ;-
Windows 2000 Server with SP3
SQL 2000 Standard Edition with SP2
Netshield 4.51

I have logged on locally or onto the Domain and receive the problems mentioned. This was installed only four hours ago on a new IBM Netvista Machine which had XP preinstalled.

 

[synergy009]

********!!!I HAVE FOUND THE SOURCE OF MY PROBLEM!!!**********

After months of annoyance I have finally found the root of my problem (non-functional desktop icons/no use of START menu). I should have realized it sooner, or at least listed it as a culprit. It is installed standard on all our machines.

NTP!!!!!

Of all the harmless things....

BREAKDOWN:

We run an intensive NTP environment (Stratum 1 & Stratum 2) and almost every single server acts as a peer to the others. We run NTP Release 4 which has worked very well for us all along. It runs as a service and fixes the computers clock and syncs with other computers to get a more accurate time for everone via UDP packets. We have been making our migration from NT4 to Win2k servers over the past few months. All our 2k servers started acting funny with the icons not working and start menu malfunctions. We racked out brains long and hard and couldn't come up with a logical solution. I have been combing the newsgroups and no one has ever had a cause for this exact problem. I don't know if this is the only cause for the scenario and I don't know if anyone else runs this exact app to incur the problem, but I do know that it is our cause. I setup one test server and cloned it to a duplicate machine so they are exact doubles of each other. I originally thought Norton Antivirus Corp. Ed. 7.6 was the cause of the trouble. So I installed it on one but not the other in hopes of reproducing the error. Couple weeks, still no freezeup. HHmmm, moved on to the next &quot;standard&quot; install we do. NTP. Installed the software on one and then the other. Within 10 mins. BAM! Double clicking didn't work on the desktop on BOTH test servers. Something with how the service runs or something about how it changes the system clock creates some kind of temporary security restriction or something.

I hope this helps some people out, maybe they don't run the same program, but might have a similar utility. Anyone else who shares this Desktop Icon/Start Menu problem, please share your situations, possibly we can find a common denominator to all this. I know that this is a problem for many with few solutions. Feedback would be greatly appreciated...

synergy

 

[DaveSemm]

We have had exactly this problem this morning for the first time. The server has been running for 6 weeks, Win2k Advanced server with SP3, SQLServer 2000 with SP3. This is a 24x7 opeatin so we can't reboot unless our application has a problem, but it is running without any problems.

Is there a way to fix it permanently ? Without rebooting ?

Many thanks !

 

[OUCATS]

I just started getting the same problem for the first time today. I was copying some files via the command prompt and when I went to check that the files copied correctly I couldn't open any desktop programs. I have rebooted but I am still having the same problem.

Synergy009 - What is NTP??

 

[DaveSemm]

FWIW, The problem must have something to do with time servers. The site where we had the problem was installing NTP on thir NetWare servers when the problem appeared. When we told them about it they did something on the NetWare side - I don't know what - and the problem went away & hasn't returned.

I explained all of this to Microsoft, and this was their reply:

&quot;I have checked through our internal KB and through internal bug and raid
databases and I cannot see this documented. I would suggest possibly
bringing it up with Novell.

As we have found the root cause of the problem we are going to archive
the case.&quot;

Thanks alot, Microsoft...

 

[cazzywayne]

I am running 2000 Professional and am having the same problems. You may also note that if you right click the mouse and look at the edit commands, open has been replaced with Target. If I copy the executable onto the desktop I can get it to work. It's the shortcuts that are messing up. I also spoke with microsft and they had no clue. It was news to them.

 

[OUCATS]

This may sound really strange but I was having the same problem all of a sudden and after a while I realized that the ESC key was stuck down. After fixing the problem everything has been back to normal. I don't know if it was caused by the stuck key (or any stuck key) but switching out a keyboard (and possibly mouse) might be worth a try. At least it would be cheap and easy.

 

[Shambler]

I have this occuring on an XP pro machine. None of the desktop or menu items fire up their programs when you click on them. Exceptions being IE and Outlook. Have noticed that the Open option has been removed when you right-click on a menu item. No real help I know but though I would just add the info. If I get a fix I will post up.

 

[Micarna]

%-)

We have had the same problem. After disconnect and reconnect the keyboard and mouse from the switchbox, all is ok. Perhaps is also a problem with an optical mouse?!

 

[c4sob]

I have the same problem after installing and deinstalling some midi software.

I will check for NTP later but I think somehow the registry has been corrupted to some extent.

Fun stuff.

--Charlie

 

[dalehofkens]

We are having exact the same problem on a number of servers in our network.
All of them run windows2000 but one, which runs win nt 4.

Not all the servers had a ntp time source, so i've setup all servers to use one machine as ntp source, and that one machine get's it time from an internet ntp source.
This is done with the standard ntp client software in win2k.

This didn't solve the problem though... My question is to synergy009 if he can provide some more detail how the problem got fixed/dissapeared...

We tried installing win2k sp4 on one of the machines but that didn't fix it either (it actually created long delays on printer queues) so we've uninstalled it again.

One other thing worth mentioning, if we connect to the servers through terminal services then we don't have this problem. Also after rebooting one of the servers, odds are that we can start commands via the start menu, open desktop icons etc. for a couple of minutes, then it's broken again. It acts like a virus on the system, but a ntp time problem in combination with kerberos tickets out of sync sounds like a logical conclusion as well..


But how do you fix it.

Thx in advance for any information.


Dale

 

[AvayaNovice]

Guys,

I have had the same problem with both of my workstations.

I thought it was that virus at first, but it was odd how both were doing it.

My KVM switch uses the key sequence: Scroll Lock, Scroll Lock, Escape to switch machines.

The Windows 2000 operating system sometimes trips out on that key sequence. To fix the problem, simply hit ESCAPE and it will be fixed. Our friend above said his keyboard was stuck on the ESCAPE key, same idea here.

Let me know if this helps.