Computer boots up but no icons showing in notification area and system hangs. Boots fine in safe mode but doing clean boot results in still no icons & hang. Error flashed up about DrWatson so disabled it and re-booted - problem solved except that now get an explorer.exe application error and a runtime error. Re-enabling DrWatson the main problem's back. Ran sfc, checked memory (there was a mention of 'memory could not be read' at one point). Tried the 'usual' fixes for missing icons but it seems the errors stem from DrWatson. Anyone else come up against this? I think I'm going to be reinstalling anyway for other reasons, but just wanted to know opinions. "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us..."

DrWatson application has been known to cause as many faults as it is shown to reveal. Like any other utillity it is there to help try to sort out errors but it can become corrupted just as easily as any other application!. Change Is Good http://www.citizenlink.org/Stopligh...

Yes, I guess that's the problem, but I can't find any repair solutions except sfc or a repair reinstall - former didn't work & the latter may cause more problems, so I'm hoping there's another alternative. "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us..."

did you read the logs and see if it was actually a drwatson issue or a combined problem.? Use the event viewer to see what it says! Change Is Good http://www.citizenlink.org/Stopligh...

Here is a good read on reading drwatson logs. http://seer.support.veritas.com/doc... Change Is Good http://www.citizenlink.org/Stopligh...

If you have ever wondered why Windows Error Reporting is called Dr Watson, read THIS (courtesy of The Old New Thing). i_Xp/VistaUser

Sorry for delay in replying. Nothing unusual (no internet attached so update and DHCP errors only) showing in event viewer. DrWatson logs only show a generic exception number 80000007 (which seems to mean it could be anything) linked to explorer.exe with a PID-2096 (which I can't find a lot on). Due to reasons highlighted in another thread I'm reinstalling this one anyway but thanks for the links, interesting reading. "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us..."