My computer suddenly has an "Explorer has caused an error in <unknown>. Explorer will now close." error as soon as the windows desktop loads up. If the window is closed, the desktop stays on (all open windows and many of the taskbar items dissapear though), but the same message reappears almost immediately again. This started appearing the other day when trying to set up a printer (Epson 880) on our home network but very few settings were changed if any. Most of hte programs can still be used on the computer except the internet has stopped working although it works on the other computers in the house.

Another problem has been that Outlook Express no longer can be opened. A "Outlook Express Could Not Be Started Because MSOE.DLL Could Not Be Loaded" comes up instead. This is important in case I have to format the computer because I have some very important emails that need to be saved.

I have used msconfig to change what programs are opened at startup and even when all of them have been removed, the problems still persist.

Any help in any of these areas would be appreciated.

Here's the Hijack This output if that helps anyone:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 843 PM, on 6/6/2004
Platform: Windows ME (Win9x 4.90.3000)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\GRISOFT\AVG6\AVGSERV9.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\EPSON\EBAPI\SAGENT2.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\GRISOFT\AVG6\AVGCC32.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ADAPTEC\DIRECTCD\DIRECTCD.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\STMGR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\SONY\IMAGESTATION\USB DIRECT CONNECT\SONYC2W.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE\MCAFEE VIRUSSCAN\ALOGSERV.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ICSMGR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QTTASK.EXE
C:\QUICKENW\QAGENT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\VISIONEER ONETOUCH\ONETOUCHMON.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\AWS\WEATHERBUG\WEATHER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\FREERAM XP PRO 1.40.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\WEBROOT\SPY SWEEPER\SPYSWEEPER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MRTMNGR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\MICROSOFT SHARED\WORKS SHARED\WKCALREM.EXE
C:\SCANPANEL\SCNPANEL.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\PROFILES\CHRIS000\DESKTOP\HIJACKTHIS.EX E

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://eat.epicurious.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = about:blank
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\ADOBE\ACROBAT 6.0\READER\ACTIVEX\ACROIEHELPER.DLL
O2 - BHO: MyWay Search Assistant BHO - {04079851-5845-4dea-848C-3ECD647AA554} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\MYWAY\SRCHASTT\1.BIN\MYSRCHAS.DLL (file missing)
O2 - BHO: NavErrRedir Class - {5D60FF48-95BE-4956-B4C6-6BB168A70310} - C:\PROGRA~1\INCRED~1\BHO\INCFIN~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHELPER.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {A85C4A1B-BD36-44E5-A70F-8EC347D9B24F} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: NavErrRedir Class - {0428FFC7-1931-45b7-95CB-3CBB919777E1} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\windows\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: SuperBar - {607913E3-CA92-43A7-94FA-73799A89F5A1} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\SUPERBAR\SUPERBAR.DLL (file missing)
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {1FFA47D6-7146-4ECF-9124-022E9BEC0D36} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\windows\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DeadAIM] rundll32.exe \DeadAIM.ocm,ExportedCheckODLs
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVG6\avgcc32.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adaptec DirectCD] C:\PROGRA~1\ADAPTEC\DIRECTCD\DIRECTCD.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SonyC2W] C:\Program Files\Sony\ImageStation\USB Direct Connect\SonyC2W.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OmgStartup] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sony Shared\OpenMG\OmgStartup.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Alogserv] C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\alogserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZTgServerSwitch] C:\Program Files\support.com\client\lserver\server.vbs
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZingSpooler] C:\Program Files\Easy Upload Tools\Drivers\Spooler\ZingSpooler.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ICSMGR] ICSMGR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\QTTASK.EXE" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QAGENT] C:\QUICKENW\QAGENT.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ICSDCLT] C:\WINDOWS\rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\icsdclt.dll,ICSClient
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KAZAA] C:\PROGRAM FILES\KAZAA\KAZAA.EXE /SYSTRAY
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OneTouch Monitor] C:\Program Files\Visioneer OneTouch\OneTouchMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [Avgserv9.exe] C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVG6\Avgserv9.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SSDPSRV] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ssdpsrv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SAgent2ExePath] C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SchedulingAgent] mstask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [StillImageMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [*StateMgr] C:\WINDOWS\System\Restore\StateMgr.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Weather] C:\PROGRAM FILES\AWS\WEATHERBUG\WEATHER.EXE 1
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [FreeRAM XP] "C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\FREERAM XP PRO 1.40.EXE" -win
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpySweeper] C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe /0
O4 - Startup: EPSON Status Monitor 3 Environment Check.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\E_SRCV03.EXE
O4 - Startup: Microsoft Works Calendar Reminders.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\wkcalrem.exe
O4 - Startup: ScanPanel.lnk = C:\ScanPanel\ScnPanel.exe
O4 - Startup: AOL Companion.lnk = C:\Program Files\AOL Companion\companion.exe
O4 - Startup: America Online 8.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\America Online 8.0b\aoltray.exe
O4 - Startup: PowerReg SchedulerV2.exe
O4 - Startup: EPSON Status Monitor 3 Environment Check 2.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\E_SRCV02.EXE
O4 - Startup: VAIO Action Setup (Server).lnk.disabled
O4 - Startup: Microsoft Works Calendar Reminders.lnk.disabled
O4 - User Startup: EPSON Status Monitor 3 Environment Check.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\E_SRCV03.EXE
O4 - User Startup: Microsoft Works Calendar Reminders.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\wkcalrem.exe
O4 - User Startup: ScanPanel.lnk = C:\ScanPanel\ScnPanel.exe
O4 - User Startup: AOL Companion.lnk = C:\Program Files\AOL Companion\companion.exe
O4 - User Startup: America Online 8.0 Tray Icon.lnk = C:\Program Files\America Online 8.0b\aoltray.exe
O4 - User Startup: PowerReg SchedulerV2.exe
O4 - User Startup: EPSON Status Monitor 3 Environment Check 2.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\E_SRCV02.EXE
O4 - User Startup: VAIO Action Setup (Server).lnk.disabled
O4 - User Startup: Microsoft Works Calendar Reminders.lnk.disabled
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\WINDOWS\GOOGLETOOLBAR2.DLL/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Related (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug (HKCU)
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system\inetadpt.dll
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/...ash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {0246ECA8-996F-11D1-BE2F-00A0C9037DFE} (TDServer Control) - http://www.bitstream.com/wfplayer/tdserver.cab
O16 - DPF: {427273CC-764E-11D3-823D-006097F90453} (Pixami Image Editor Control) - http://www.imagestation.com/common/...ab?ver=1,1,0,32
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://download.macromedia.com/pub/...ector/swdir.cab
O16 - DPF: {0122955E-1FB0-11D2-A238-006097FAEE8B} (CscClnt Class) - http://206.31.10.119/central/020301...everContent.cab
O16 - DPF: {CC05BC12-2AA2-4AC7-AC81-0E40F83B1ADF} (Live365Player Class) - http://www.live365.com/players/play365.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.c...7898.4120949074
O16 - DPF: {2B323CD9-50E3-11D3-9466-00A0C9700498} (Yahoo! Audio Conferencing) - http://cs6.chat.sc5.yahoo.com/v43/yacscom.cab
O16 - DPF: {B8E71371-F7F7-11D2-A2CE-0060B0FB9D0D} (CDToolCtrl Class) - http://free.aol.com/tryaolfree/cdt175/aolcdt175.cab
O16 - DPF: {38578BF0-0ABB-11D3-9330-0080C6F796A1} (Create and Print ActiveX Plug-in) - http://www.americangreetings.com/cnp/Install/AxCtp.cab
O16 - DPF: {C6AB80BC-7E87-11D4-8BBB-0001025F438B} (MP3.com DirectToDevice Control) - http://filedownloads.mp3.com/filedo...ferToDevice.cab
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/...all/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {D68217F4-1DF9-45C1-BFA6-61DBD5464527} (Genealogy Browser) - http://66.119.139.74/cabs/zinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {CAFEEFAC-0014-0001-0001-ABCDEFFEDCBA} (Java Runtime Environment 1.4.1_01) -
O16 - DPF: {1954A4B1-9627-4CF2-A041-58AA2045CB35} (Brix6ie Control) - http://a19.g.akamai.net/7/19/7125/1.../v7/brix6ie.cab
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52...meInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {2B96D5CC-C5B5-49A5-A69D-CC0A30F9028C} (MiniBugTransporterX Class) - http://download.weatherbug.com/mini...Transporter.cab?
O16 - DPF: {C6B086D2-146B-47A4-A218-B82DCAF2D872} (cpbrxpie Control) - http://a19.g.akamai.net/7/19/7125/4...20/cpbrxpie.cab
O16 - DPF: {C2FCEF52-ACE9-11D3-BEBD-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec RuFSI Registry Information Class) - http://security.symantec.com/SSC/Sh...n/bin/cabsa.cab
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/SSC/Sh...bin/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {01113300-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com Configuration Class) - http://supportcentral.sel.sony.com/...oad/tgctlcm.cab
O16 - DPF: {FF054BED-D972-4215-897E-726C3488DDBB} (sonyctl.sonycm) - http://supportcentral.sel.sony.com/...oad/sonyctl.CAB
O16 - DPF: {01111C00-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED} (Support.com ActionRunner Class) - http://supportcentral.sel.sony.com/...oad/tgctlar.cab
O16 - DPF: {9522B3FB-7A2B-4646-8AF6-36E7F593073C} (cpbrkpie Control) - http://a19.g.akamai.net/7/19/7125/1...21/cpbrkpie.cab
O16 - DPF: {4A3CF76B-EC7A-405D-A67D-8DC6B52AB35B} (QDiagAOLCCUpdateObj Class) - http://aolcc.aol.com/computercheckup/qdiagcc.cab
O16 - DPF: {AECD14A8-F662-11D1-A395-00805F535788} (Plotwon Control) - http://www.investors.com/member/ocx/plotwon.ocx
O16 - DPF: {1DF36010-E276-11D4-A7C0-00C04F0453DD} (Stamps.com Secure Postal Account Registration) - https://secure.stamps.com/download/...55/sdcregie.cab
O16 - DPF: {BE5431D2-0F30-11D4-89D9-00C04F509C0A} (SDCInstaller Class) - http://www.stamps.com/download/us/c...file=stamps.cab