Regards from Spain. A few days ago, my XP stopped loading the Start menu (wii load up to the background image) and gave me an error message: explorer.exe cannot load due to corrupt browseui.dll.

I then downloaded a browseui.dll file from the net and put it in the system folder. As a result, I don't get the error message but explorer.exe won`t load anyway. The only way I can operate the laptop is through the Ctrl-Alt-Del dialogue box. From there I can load applications even when explorer.exe is not loaded. Yet, my problem continues. As possible causes I thought of a virus, even when I use an updated Norton AV and never had problems.

Any ideas?

Did you try safe mode? Did you look in the event viewer?