Desktop and TaskBar gone

[R.Marmiroli]

Hi all,

I have a problem with a Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
Yesterday the computer was rebooted and when the user logged on discovered
that the desktop environment (wallpaper, icons, taskbar, traybar) had gone.
The mouse moves, but no click or drag has any effect (no selection
indicator, no contextual menu).
Windows seems to work, as soon as you open your applications through Vista's
Application Manager (office applications, internet explorer, etc).

Note that:
- windows runs smoothly in Safe Mode (no problem here). I already tried a
selective start excluding all user programs and non-MS services, but it
doesn't solve the problem).
- In normal mode the "lost desktop environment" problem affects every user
(not a profile matter, it seems)
- If you try to launch explorer.exe from application manager you get an
error (cannot access the file specified or permission denied): I already
checked permissions and they are ok.

Any suggestion?

Thank you in advance,

Raffaele Marmiroli
Italy

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Boot into "Safe Mode" and use System Restore
which is found by going to Start > All Programs >
Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Select a Restore Point that was created before
the issue became known.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all,

I have a problem with a Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
Yesterday the computer was rebooted and when the user logged on discovered
that the desktop environment (wallpaper, icons, taskbar, traybar) had gone.
The mouse moves, but no click or drag has any effect (no selection
indicator, no contextual menu).
Windows seems to work, as soon as you open your applications through Vista's
Application Manager (office applications, internet explorer, etc).

Note that:
- windows runs smoothly in Safe Mode (no problem here). I already tried a
selective start excluding all user programs and non-MS services, but it
doesn't solve the problem).
- In normal mode the "lost desktop environment" problem affects every user
(not a profile matter, it seems)
- If you try to launch explorer.exe from application manager you get an
error (cannot access the file specified or permission denied): I already
checked permissions and they are ok.

Any suggestion?

Thank you in advance,

Raffaele Marmiroli
Italy

 

[RaMar]

Hi Carey,

thank you for your answer.
Alas! It seems the user (an "advanced" one) had disabled system restore,
since I cannot find any Restore Point!
This was probably done a long time ago when the pc was still XP Pro (it's an
upgraded system) in order to remove a virus.
I'd like to try another bit of troubleshooting before reinstalling the pc,
as it seems only a matter of knowing where to dig...("...the X marks the
place...")

Any other ideas?

Bye,

R.Marmiroli
from Italy