diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp
index ad412dc5117..ac711e6fc24 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/explorer.cpp
@@ -166,18 +166,18 @@ int WINAPI _tWinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPTSTR lpCmdL
 #endif
 
 	 // If there is given the command line option "-desktop", create desktop window anyways
-	if (!lstrcmp(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-desktop")))
+	if (_tcsstr(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-desktop")))
 		startup_desktop = TRUE;
 
-	if (!lstrcmp(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-nodesktop")))
+	if (_tcsstr(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-nodesktop")))
 		startup_desktop = FALSE;
 
-	if (!lstrcmp(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-noexplorer"))) {
+	if (_tcsstr(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-noexplorer"))) {
 		nShowCmd = SW_HIDE;
 		startup_desktop = TRUE;
 	}
 
-	if (!lstrcmp(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-noautostart")))
+	if (!_tcsstr(lpCmdLine,TEXT("-noautostart")))
 		autostart = false;
 
 	g_Globals._hInstance = hInstance;
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellbrowser.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellbrowser.cpp
index b64965c191b..bf08ab4efbd 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellbrowser.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/shell/shellbrowser.cpp
@@ -319,7 +319,11 @@ void ShellBrowserChild::InsertSubitems(HTREEITEM hParentItem, Entry* entry, IShe
 
 	SendMessage(_left_hwnd, WM_SETREDRAW, FALSE, 0);
 
-	entry->smart_scan();
+	try {
+		entry->smart_scan();
+	} catch(COMException& e) {
+		HandleException(e, g_Globals._hMainWnd);
+	}
 
 	TV_ITEM tvItem;
 	TV_INSERTSTRUCT tvInsert;
@@ -486,7 +490,11 @@ HRESULT ShellBrowserChild::OnDefaultCommand(IShellView* ppshv)
 			ShellDirectory* parent = (ShellDirectory*)TreeView_GetItemData(_left_hwnd, _last_sel);
 
 			if (parent) {
-				parent->smart_scan();
+				try {
+					parent->smart_scan();
+				} catch(COMException& e) {
+					return e.Error();
+				}
 
 				Entry* entry = parent->find_entry(pidl);
 
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp
index c1cad0d96fa..51fffb0c910 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/quicklaunch.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ QuickLaunchMap::~QuickLaunchMap()
 QuickLaunchBar::QuickLaunchBar(HWND hwnd)
  :	super(hwnd)
 {
+	_dir = NULL;
+
 	_next_id = IDC_FIRST_QUICK_ID;
 
 	HWND hwndToolTip = (HWND) SendMessage(hwnd, TB_GETTOOLTIPS, 0, 0);
@@ -93,11 +95,12 @@ void QuickLaunchBar::AddShortcuts()
 		_stprintf(path, _T("%s\\")QUICKLAUNCH_FOLDER, (LPCTSTR)app_data);
 
 		_dir = new ShellDirectory(Desktop(), path, _hwnd);
+
+		_dir->smart_scan();
 	} catch(COMException&) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	_dir->smart_scan();
 
 	ShellFolder desktop_folder;
 	WindowCanvas canvas(_hwnd);
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp
index e51cef2cc5d..a1945b8e5fc 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/startmenu.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,11 @@ void StartMenu::AddEntries()
 		StartMenuDirectory& smd = *it;
 		ShellDirectory& dir = smd._dir;
 
-		dir.smart_scan();
+		try {
+			dir.smart_scan();
+		} catch(COMException& e) {
+			HandleException(e, g_Globals._hMainWnd);
+		}
 
 		AddShellEntries(dir, -1, smd._subfolders);
 	}
@@ -389,31 +393,38 @@ void StartMenu::CreateSubmenu(int id, const StartMenuFolders& new_folders, CREAT
 
 void StartMenu::CreateSubmenu(int id, int folder_id, CREATORFUNC creator)
 {
-	StartMenuFolders new_folders;
+	try {
+		SpecialFolderPath folder(folder_id, _hwnd);
 
-	SpecialFolderPath folder(folder_id, _hwnd);
-
-	if (folder)
+		StartMenuFolders new_folders;
 		new_folders.push_back(folder);
 
-	CreateSubmenu(id, new_folders, creator);
+		CreateSubmenu(id, new_folders, creator);
+	} catch(COMException&) {
+		// ignore Exception and don't display anything
+	}
 }
 
 void StartMenu::CreateSubmenu(int id, int folder_id1, int folder_id2, CREATORFUNC creator)
 {
 	StartMenuFolders new_folders;
 
-	SpecialFolderPath folder1(folder_id1, _hwnd);
+	try {
+		SpecialFolderPath folder1(folder_id1, _hwnd);
 
-	if (folder1)
 		new_folders.push_back(folder1);
+	} catch(COMException&) {
+	}
 
-	SpecialFolderPath folder2(folder_id2, _hwnd);
+	try {
+		SpecialFolderPath folder2(folder_id2, _hwnd);
 
-	if (folder2)
 		new_folders.push_back(folder2);
+	} catch(COMException&) {
+	}
 
-	CreateSubmenu(id, new_folders, creator);
+	if (!new_folders.empty())
+		CreateSubmenu(id, new_folders, creator);
 }
 
 
@@ -540,13 +551,21 @@ void StartMenuButton::DrawItem(LPDRAWITEMSTRUCT dis)
 StartMenuRoot::StartMenuRoot(HWND hwnd)
  :	super(hwnd)
 {
-	 // insert directory "All Users\Start Menu"
-	ShellDirectory cmn_startmenu(Desktop(), SpecialFolderPath(CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU, _hwnd), _hwnd);
-	_dirs.push_back(StartMenuDirectory(cmn_startmenu, false));	// don't add subfolders
+	try {
+		 // insert directory "All Users\Start Menu"
+		ShellDirectory cmn_startmenu(Desktop(), SpecialFolderPath(CSIDL_COMMON_STARTMENU, _hwnd), _hwnd);
+		_dirs.push_back(StartMenuDirectory(cmn_startmenu, false));	// don't add subfolders
+	} catch(COMException&) {
+		// ignore exception and don't show additional shortcuts
+	}
 
-	 // insert directory "<user name>\Start Menu"
-	ShellDirectory usr_startmenu(Desktop(), SpecialFolderPath(CSIDL_STARTMENU, _hwnd), _hwnd);
-	_dirs.push_back(StartMenuDirectory(usr_startmenu, false));	// don't add subfolders
+	try {
+		 // insert directory "<user name>\Start Menu"
+		ShellDirectory usr_startmenu(Desktop(), SpecialFolderPath(CSIDL_STARTMENU, _hwnd), _hwnd);
+		_dirs.push_back(StartMenuDirectory(usr_startmenu, false));	// don't add subfolders
+	} catch(COMException&) {
+		// ignore exception and don't show additional shortcuts
+	}
 
 	 // read size of logo bitmap
 	BITMAP bmp_hdr;
@@ -839,7 +858,11 @@ void RecentStartMenu::AddEntries()
 		StartMenuDirectory& smd = *it;
 		ShellDirectory& dir = smd._dir;
 
-		dir.smart_scan();
+		try {
+			dir.smart_scan();
+		} catch(COMException& e) {
+			HandleException(e, g_Globals._hMainWnd);
+		}
 
 		dir.sort_directory(SORT_DATE);
 		AddShellEntries(dir, 16, smd._subfolders);	//TODO: read max. count of entries from registry
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.cpp
index cf8f13949f7..5870716ed3f 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.cpp
@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ ShellFolder::ShellFolder(IShellFolder* parent, LPCITEMIDLIST pidl)
 {
 	IShellFolder* ptr;
 
+	if (!pidl)
+		CheckError(E_INVALIDARG);
+
 	if (pidl && pidl->mkid.cb)
 		CheckError(parent->BindToObject(pidl, 0, IID_IShellFolder, (LPVOID*)&ptr));
 	else
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.h b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.h
index 253c806cdcb..fc92ef10d57 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.h
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/utility/shellclasses.h
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ struct COMException
 	{
 	}
 
+	HRESULT Error() const
+	{
+		return _hr;
+	}
+
 	LPCTSTR ErrorMessage() const
 	{
 		if (_msg.empty()) {
@@ -696,7 +701,8 @@ struct SpecialFolderPath : public ShellPath
 {
 	SpecialFolderPath(int folder, HWND hwnd)
 	{
-		/*HRESULT hr = */SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(hwnd, folder, &_p);
+		HRESULT hr = SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(hwnd, folder, &_p);
+		CheckError(hr);
 	}
 };
 
@@ -745,6 +751,7 @@ struct SpecialFolderFSPath : public FileSysShellPath
 	SpecialFolderFSPath(int folder, HWND hwnd)
 	{
 		HRESULT hr = SHGetSpecialFolderLocation(hwnd, folder, &_p);
+		CheckError(hr);
 	}
 };