Thanks Chad, I never tried that way to get there, but I have a feeling that
wouldn't have worked either.

I did fix it though, I went looking in the Event logs and found references
to Explorer errors and a module ALSNDMGR.CPL (why can't you copy from those
windows).
Google told me it was a component of RealTek drivers, Bingo, I had recently
updated those drivers to try and fix a sound problem that actually turned
out to be a problem with video drivers, go figure.
I removed the Realtek drivers, rebooted and let Vista do it's thing. It
found the hardware, installed drivers and away I go.

Ray


"Chad Harris" <fixvista-itneedsit.net> wrote in message
news:%23aBRO3bMHHA.3944@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...[color=blue]
> Ray--
>
> 1) You can usually access Network and Sharing on the Start Menu.
>
> [url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921070/en-us[/url]
>
> 2) Type control panel in help and when it comes up just click in the
> address bar to the right of control panel and you should be able to access
> it and click it.
>
> CH
>
> "Ray " <someone@mydomain.com> wrote in message
> news:uc1DqZVMHHA.4708@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...[color=green]
>> Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a problem that I am hoping you can help me
>> with.
>>
>> OS is RC2 x86, it's been running very well until today, when trying to
>> access the Control Panel, I keep getting the message the "Windows
>> Explorer
>> has stopped working", yada, yada, yada.
>>
>> I can get to all of the "tools" from C:\Windows\System32, or if I go
>> toStart-Computer and then hit the down arrow for Control Panel I can get
>> to and use all of them *except* for Network and Sharing. If I try and
>> bring up that window it will crash. I changed the view to display as a
>> menu and when I hover the cursor over the icon for CP (I don't even have
>> to click) it crashes.
>> The same thing if I put it on the desktop as a shortcut.
>>
>> It seems to me to be someway linked to Network and Sharing, but for the
>> life of me I don't know what or how. I'm open to any and all ideas
>>
>> Ray[/color]
>[/color]