How do you load Windows Explorer while Windows is booting? You put it in
the Startup Group? Perhaps update defs, & run a virus scan.

(1) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"
     It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE & E
are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of IE is
indicated.

(2) Over-install IE. Try first without, but I believe it will request an
internet connection. Perhaps it is best to let it connect, actually. If
you don't care to get this fancy, just skip to step (c).

(a) Turn off interfering programs. Use http://www.pcmag.com/ 's
"StartupCop" or "EndItAll2". Or "START, Run, MSConfig, Startup tab".
Note what is unchecked, if anything. Then, go to the General tab &
disable the entire Startup Group, by clicking "Selective.." & unchecking
"Load Startup...". Reboot.

(b) Perhaps, if you haven't got EndItAll2, then "Ctrl-Alt-Del" & end
task all but Explorer & Systray. If this goes badly, start again from
top, & skip it next time.

(c) "START, Find, F/F, IE6Setup.exe". Click it in the Find window.
     NOTE: If you are IE5, then it's "IE5Setup.exe". If there are more
than one (I have two each), click the one in "C:\WINDOWS\Windows
Update Setup Files" or "C:\Windows Update Setup Files", as applicable.

(d) Re-enable the Startup Group. That will automatically check all
items. Go to the Startup tab & uncheck any noted in step (a). Reboot.

(e) Perhaps go to Windows Update, to see whether it now offers
criticals.

locks and must be restarted/rebooted.

only the Windows Explorer drivers/programs if this is the problem?

First pick one of these to identify what loads at boot. Next, see
whether there is an option in it's menus to disable it from starting up.
If you really want to rid yourself of it on a more permanent basis, then
look for it in "Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs". However, it isn't
often easy to know what is what in there. One of these URL's may say.
Only last, go to StartUpCop.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q137367
Startup Items
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q179/3/65.asp
Startup Group
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q282107 Startup
http://aumha.org/a/loads.htm
http://users.westelcom.com/rogersr/clean.htm
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/sheppard.p/startup.htm
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist_a.htm
http://www.djbdesigns.com/wtvzone/startup.html
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm
http://www.sysinfo.org/startupinfo.php
http://www2.cajun.net/~theriots/blk/start.htm
http://www2.whidbey.com/djdenham/Uncheck.htm
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startlist.htm

http://www.pcmag.com/ 's StartUpCop has "undo", and it is more than a
combination of "START, Run, MSInfo32, Software Environment, Startup
Programs" and "START, Run, MSConfig, Startup tab". It can even do a
permanent delete. Of course, first see whether the app has an option in
it's own menus to remove itself from the Startup Group. This is
configurable, and one may maintain multiple configurations.

Update definitions & check for viruses, and
http://aumha.org/secure.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm#tshoot
http://patrick.kolla.de/spybotsd.html SpyBot- Search & Destroy. SpyBot
is gabby in it's "Checks" & "Fixes" logs. Turn them off in "Settings".
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ AdAware
http://www.lavasoftusa.de/ Also AdAware
http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html CoolWebSearch Chronicles
http://www.merijn.org/files/cwshredder.zip & CWShredder
http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip Finally, Hijack This
may find something. (Actually, they certainly will.)

locks and must be restarted/rebooted.

only the Windows Explorer drivers/programs if this is the problem?