My comps start menu is dead?

When i sign into my comp it comes on like normal but when the main screen comes up with the icons and stuff i get a pop up that says windows explorer stopped working and to restart it and when i do it just comes back up again and everything gets all complicated cause i can't access my icons or start menu little advice maybe some links to free virus protection and or removal.

Thanks in advance

My comps start menu is dead?triumph

Used with permission from NumberSix6

Printing this would be helpful

You need not follow this in exact order, or even do all the steps, but it was written this way to ensure all issues where handled.

If you find one portion particularly helpful for removing a problem please email me

Step 1) DON'T PANIC! Take a deep breath and go grab a cup of your favorite beverage. This may take awhile.

Step 2) Clean up your pc. Remove programs you don't use via the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel. In Vista, you remove programs by clicking Programs and Features in the Control Panel. If you are unsure of a particular program, you can check it against a list of offenders here:

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread....

Clean your hard drive of unnecessary files using CCleaner here: http://www.ccleaner.com/download/...

Save to your desktop, install it, then run the cleaner. Simple, yet it will free up tons of space on your hard drive. While you have the program open, run the Registry Checker as well. This will fix invalid registry entries safely. Note that you should run CCleaner for ALL accounts on your pc.