Same problem, I tried also to reinstall IE6 but with no success. If I disable NDS.vxd using "msconfig", the computer works perfectly but I don't have access to the network. If I enable this vxd, the "explorer" task freezes at startup after 5-10 seconds. I close it with "end task", it restarts and keeps functioning for 5-10 sec.
I checked all startup progs (registry, ini files, startup folder, autoexec&config, winstart.bat, vxd etc...). I scanned my hd with latest antiviruses and spyware removers (AdAware,Spybot). I uninstalled all network things and removed the network card, then reinstalled all. I checked for damaged files. Nothing changed.
It seems that when I install the TCP/IP protocol and then I assign a static IP, explorer starts to freeze with no apparent reason.

This behaviour started on TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS with Windows ME the same day. I didn't install anything new on them nor I changed hardware pieces.

I didn't find any solutions on internet (I tried also on KB on microsoft site with no success).

Anyone found a solution? :(((

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3 times out of 4, when I start my computer, everything loads up okay as usual and the
cursor is right in the middle of the screen, waiting for me to move it. Everything SEEMS fine. But when I move the cursor, I cannot click on anything. I use CTRL-ALT-DEL and the windows pops up with the few programs I have open. None of them is "Not Responding". I highlight "Explorer" and click "End Task". After a few seconds, another windows pops up saying that Explorer is not responding. I click "End Task" again. Now, "Explorer" restarts (Not the computer) and everything is back to normal.
Any idea what the problem can be???
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hello
since the problem started with two computers the same day its a problem thats tranfirable.
such as a trojin or virus.whats the device manager say on these computers?
allso d/l mozillia and try it instead of ie.
try these links for trojin virus scans
ree trojin scan
http://www.trojanscan.com/trojanscan/scanner.htm
panda scan
http://www.pandasoftware.es/activescan/

housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
rav av
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

test my sheilds grc
https://nanoprobe.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

allso check to see if on or about the day the problem started if there had been a windoz up date instald

Hi, thanks for yor answers.
I solved the problem on one of the two computers disabling the ACPI feature in BIOS.
ACPI used the same IRQ as the network card, but the system didn't report any conflict. It was a "hidden conflict".
I tried the same solution on the other computer but with no success. I tried many IRQ for the network card: nothing to do.

I suspect the problem of this computer is a wrong bios setting, but I resetted it and nothing changed.

I'm sure I don't have any type of trojan (I know them well), nor strange programs installed (dialers etc.). Maybe a windows update, but many other computers with ME continued to work well after updates.

I think it's an hardware conflict caused by a wrong bios setting...... but after many tries I gave up (for now)...

Any ideas?

FINALLY SOLVED !!!

I don't know exactly which registry entries have been modified, but I solved the problem by installing API SPY trial version(madmat.hypermart.net/apis32.htm).

The system works perfectly even if you uninstall it.

I don't know the reason why it works.... but the important thing is that it solved my explorer freezing problems on Windows ME!!!