KB976576, Dr. Watson, computer locks up?

[SkaarjMaster]

OK, so I'm trying to create new directories or shortcuts in my start directory in WinXP SP3 and I keep getting this IE error and Dr. Watson and then my computer locks up. It seems Dr. Watson is part of MS NET Framework 2.0 SP2, so I started uninstalling the updates and then I was going to get rid of SP2 and the last update won't install and gives me a fatal error. Anyone know any other ways of uninstalling KB976576 or possibly just the Dr. Watson component of NET framework 2.0 SP2?

EDIT: it's now happening with opening directory folders and files either in explorer or in directory structure........I get IE error, then Dr. Watson, then the computer just spins until I reboot. It happened after sort of installing FileZilla, so I got rid of it on C: drive as well as CrossLoop (another recently installed program) and I'm now in this thread again. Any ideas? Should I run Malwarebytes and Superantispyware and AntiVir scan? Should I run these?
chkdsk /r
sfc /scannow

EDIT AGAIN: ran MWB, SASW and AntiVir with no significant results. Also did the regsvr /u shmeldir.dll(?) thing and reinstall (didn't work either). Finally, disabled DEP for explorer and it seems to have at least stemmed the problem for now. So, any ideas how to get rid of the Dr. Watson thing anyway?

[Bryan]

DR.Watson is the windows diagnostics app, check your log files to see if anything is showing up there. ( The error is more likely Explorer rather then IE .)

Should use the /x flag in addition to /r.

[SkaarjMaster]

Well, is it OK to disable DEP for explorer and leave it like that? (yes, I kinda figured it was windows explorer; I'm using Chrome as my browser these days). It seems to be working OK now that way.

I found out that I'd have to uninstall all the NET frameworks in reverse order to get rid of the Dr. Watson thing and then I'd be left with only version 1.0 and 1.1. Not sure if I'm using any programs that require 2, 3 or 4 though.

Scanning the threads on this subject, it seems the chkdsk and sfc has worked for a few; although, most I believe had to replace with a working backed up system either through system backup or some imaging program (or just a complete reinstall, which of course is a no go for me at this point).

[SkaarjMaster]

OK, so it's not over yet, but it only popped up once today when I was doing something different in explorer. I may be trying the chkdsk and sfc things soon. Does anyone know if backwards uninstalling NET framework would work at all? Also, is there a list of what programs are dependent on each version of NET framework?

[SkaarjMaster]

I just realized it happened twice on my Mom's computer about 3 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago. I ran the chkdsk on her computer and nothing. Her computer seems to be running fine, but we don't go into explorer as much on her computer anyway. I run these things and post the results here. In the meantime, anyone else reading this let me know your results for this problem. Thank you.

EDIT: tried the sfc /scannow on my Mom's computer, but the original SP1a disc doesn't work and the slipstream SP3 CD doesn't either. The sfc starts when I change the registry to point the ServiceSource? to the location of the SP3 slipstream contents, but then it has problems with 50 files when it doesn't even get 1/4 through the process. My computer has an original SP2 CD and an SP3 slipstream, but I suspect I'll get the same result. My guess is this sfc only works with original CDs with no changes in XP versions.

[SkaarjMaster]

I did the following on my computer so far.
1. updated SpywareBlaster
2. updated and ran MBAM with no items detected
3. updated and ran SASW with no items detected
4. disk cleanup on C:
5. defragmented C:
6. backed up C: drive
7. ran chkdsk /r /x and everything was OK/clean/no bad sectors or changes
8. ran sfc /scannow and it finished with no results (I guess this is good)

9. updated and ran AntiVir virusscan and it seems to have all false positives as shown below:
C:\Program Files\SmitFraudFix\SmitfraudFix.exe
[0] Archive type: RAR SFX (self extracting)
--> SmitfraudFix\Reboot.exe
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the SPR/Tool.Reboot.F program
--> SmitfraudFix\restart.exe
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the SPR/Tool.Hardoff.A program
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Rosetta Stone\Content\data\8e\1\8e1eef2bc5658bf155b94c58aa34448b59ec6423
[0] Archive type: SWC
--> Object
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the EXP/Flash.Gen exploit
C:\Program Files\SmitFraudFix\SmitfraudFix.exe
[0] Archive type: RAR SFX (self extracting)
--> SmitfraudFix\Reboot.exe
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the SPR/Tool.Reboot.F program
--> SmitfraudFix\restart.exe
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the SPR/Tool.Hardoff.A program
C:\Program Files\SmitFraudFix\SmitfraudFix\Reboot.exe
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the SPR/Tool.Reboot.F program
C:\Program Files\SmitFraudFix\SmitfraudFix\restart.exe
[DETECTION] Contains recognition pattern of the SPR/Tool.Hardoff.A program

Any ideas on what I should try next? Thank you.

[SkaarjMaster]

What's the difference between sfc and windows repair? I'm thinking sfc finds the errors and windows repair actually fixes them, but there might be more to it than that.

Besides a reinstall, any ideas what I should try next? Windows Repair?

[Bryan]

Sfc looks for files that are missing or the wrong version while windows repair looks at damaged files and the like.

It might be more of an issue with a corrupt update, give this a try.

http://rahuldpatel.wordpress.com/200...pdate-failure/

[SkaarjMaster]

10. ran the windows update fix and then tried to recreate the problem in windows explorer and the window start subdirectories and no lockups, but that doesn't mean the problem is fixed. I'll revisit this issue if I see it creep up again. Of course, I probably need to enable DEP for explorer again to find out for sure; although, I did get an error with it still disabled so who knows.

[SkaarjMaster]

just happened again while going to internet sites that had a lot of popups that I haven't been to before. Got a service control manager error in system and application error in application in the event viewer if that makes any sense. Any idea WTF it could be now?

[SkaarjMaster]

Just got the Dr. Watson thing (i guess explorer error) again today while trying to delete something from my quick launch bar. I immediately closed running MBAM program and stopped Dr. Watson process and things seem back to normal. I would really like to know what exactly is causing this and fix it, but it's looking like something that only a reinstall would fix.....and that is not happening.