Admin Tips
- Windows Server 2008/2003/2000/XP/NT Administrator Knowledge Base
  - Windows XP
    - Admin Tips
      - IE and Explorer
        Explorer crashes and screen blank

Section(s): IE and Explorer, Explorer , IE and Explorer, IE and Explorer
Published on Apr 20, 2004.
Last Modified on Apr 20, 2004.
Last Modified by Wayne Maples.
Rated 2.7 out of 5 based on 32 votes.

When explorer under Windows NT / Windows 2000 / Windows XP crashes, you will wind up with a blank screen with no Start button, no desktop icons, and sometimes no taskbar. No big deal. You can resolve it with a reboot. But what if you if you don't want to lose your work? I have also seen this remotely on web servers when connected with a tool like PCAnywhere. In any case, press alt-ctrl-del or for PCAnywhere or other remote tool have it generate the alt-ctrl-del sequence. If the Windows Task Manager dialog box appears, and it usually does, select the File menu and then New Task (Run). When the Create New Task dialog box appears, type in Explorer and press the OK button. Windows Explorer should restart complete with the Start button.