Not what I wanted to hear! ;)
Let's try another approach. This is a non-destructive procedure but, as I always like to have a safety net, I recommend setting a Restore Point first. You probably know how to do this better than me - right click My Computer, Properties, Advanced System Settings, System Protection tab, Create.
Next, download
ShellExView , install the downloaded file and run it.
You will see a list of all the shell extensions installed on your system. Some are highlighted in pink, and it's those we are interested in.
Click on the word 'Company' at the top of the column of that name. This will sort out all the pink entries into one or more blocks. (I have 2 blocks of pink, one at the top and one at the bottom of the list). We now need to select all these pink entries.
Starting at the top of the list, click on the first entry in the first pink block to highlight it. Hold Shift down and click the last entry in the block. The first pink block should then be highlighted. Release the Shift key.
Scroll down to the next pink block (using the scroll bar at the side of the window or the wheel of a 'wheely mouse'), hold Ctrl down and click the first entry in this second block. Keeping Ctrl held down, press Shift and click on the last entry in the pink block.
Repeat for any pink blocks further down. This will have highlighted all the pink entries in the list.
Go to File, Save Selected Items, name the file and save it to your desktop (or another location where you will find it again). Attach this file to your next post.
It seems that certain shell extensions can cause the type of problem you are seeing. Temporarily turning these extensions off may provide a clue if one of them is responsible for breaking Explorer. If not then we can simply turn them back on again. You may find certain things look a little different when these extensions are turned off - the right click menu, for instance - but everything will return to normal when reinstated.
