desktop icons gone

[Coleen]

My desktop icons are gone after a virus attack (thanks to my
not-so-tech-savy-husband). Virus gone - desktop icons gone too. Cannot
right click on desktop to Show Desktop Icons. I don't even have a "start"
button. Anyone??? I'm getting ready to reload Windows and wondering if
anyone has anything to add that might fix this before I do that.

 

[Alister]

My desktop icons are gone after a virus attack (thanks to my
not-so-tech-savy-husband).  Virus gone - desktop icons gone too.  Cannot
right click on desktop to Show Desktop Icons.  I don't even have a "start"
button.   Anyone???   I'm getting ready to reload Windows and wondering if
anyone has anything to add that might fix this before I do that.

You can try starting explorer.exe (Which is what provides the desktop
and taskbar) by doing the following:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc together, this should bring up the Task
manager. From the menu at the top of Task Manager
select File then New Task, and in the box that appears type in
explorer.exe and press Enter. If this works, you should see your Start
button, taskbar and desktop appear.

This may not work, if the virus has been really nasty, in which case
you could try starting in Safe Mode (hold down F5 as computer boots)
and see if you get your taskbar then.

There is a link (which I can't remember at the moment) which details a
Registry fix to make Explorer work again.
I'll look it out for you.

Alister.

 

[Alister]

You can try starting explorer.exe (Which is what provides the desktop
and taskbar) by doing the following:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc together, this should bring up the Task
manager. From the menu at the top of Task Manager
select File then New Task, and in the box that appears type in
explorer.exe and press Enter. If this works, you should see your Start
button, taskbar and desktop appear.

This may not work, if the virus has been really nasty, in which case
you could try starting in Safe Mode (hold down F5 as computer boots)
and see if you get your taskbar then.

There is a link (which I can't remember at the moment) which details a
Registry fix to make Explorer work again.
I'll look it out for you.

Alister.

That link is:

http://pctechnow.blogspot.com/2008/08/cant-find-explorerexe-when-run-from.html

It describes similar symptoms to yours.

Alister