Desktop not working - no icons, start button, etc.

[jaredean]

Friday before I left for the day programs just suddenly started
erroring out and then i got a BSOD. I had to go home, so i just let
it reboot itself and left for the day. Came in this morning and it
looks like it was trying to do a scandisk over the weekend (which only
takes a few minutes) and was stopped on part 2 of 3...

so, i shut it down, started it up and let it go through it again
(which it accomplished)...but, once it started up again I could login,
but had no desktop icons, no start bar, nothing. I can do a CRTL +
ALT + DEL to bring of the task manager, but that is it. I can also
login using safe mode, but I can't see anything in there either.

It seemed like Explorer.exe process wasn't running, but when I tried
to start it (Task Manager > New Task) it wouldn't start (once it shut
down again)...

The last thing i did before it had problems was install the new Itunes
8 and was moving stuff to my iPod...

I just want to get to a system restore window and take it back to
Friday Morning (or get in and uninstall iTunes)...

Any ideas?

thanks,
jared

 

[sgopus]

There is a reported problem with itunes and the newest drivers, causing BSOD's
I would restore to a previous date to the itunes update and do some checking
into the issue I had read of of some resolutions for the problem, I think it
was on this forum.

 

[jaredean]

thanks for your reply, but i am unable to restore to a previous date
because i can't bring up the restore panel -- i get no icons, no start
menu, no taskbar, etc...

jared

 

[PaulM]

Go here and download and run FixShell
http://www.paulsxp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=133
This script will fix the Explorer Shell.


--

 

[jaredean]

thanks for the script - i would love to run it but am not sure how...i
can't see anything (my computer, start/run, etc.) to be able to see
the script to run it...i copied it to a USB key and tried to run a new
task, but can't locate the script...

jared

 

[PaulM]

All you do is click or (double click) on the file like any other file.
You can run it from any where, from the desktop the folder you downloaded it
too.
If you want to check the file you can open it with notepad.

--

 

[jaredean]

Paul, you are not reading my posts...you seem to just be reading a
line or two, but you are really not understanding what i've written
the last 3 posts...i am telling you that there is no desktop icons, no
start bar, no my compute, no anything. So, there is no way i can run
this file.

jared

 

[PaulM]

You are right, I jump over that part. Can you get explorer to run from the
Task Manager?
What about Safe Mode?

--

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 9/16/2008 8:22 AM, and on a whim, jaredean pounded
out on the keyboard:

thanks for the script - i would love to run it but am not sure how...i
can't see anything (my computer, start/run, etc.) to be able to see
the script to run it...i copied it to a USB key and tried to run a new
task, but can't locate the script...

jared

Hi Jared,

If you press Ctrl-Alt-Del do you get the Windows Security dialog? If
so, click the Task Manager button, then click File, New Task, and enter:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

This should bring up System Restore.

Report back,

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[jaredean]

thanks for this information...i tried it and i was able to get into
the task manager, run the command you gave me and all it did was start
that process (rstrui.exe), but it didn't start system restore...man,
SO CLOSE!!!

any other suggestions? i have the Windows CD and know how to get into
the recovery console, but havne't really done much in there before and
wanted to do a system restore if possible...

jared

 

[jaredean]

"It seemed like Explorer.exe process wasn't running, but when I tried
to start it (Task Manager > New Task) it wouldn't start (once it shut
down again)..."



" I can also login using safe mode, but I can't see anything in there
either."



Those are both from my first post...



jared

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was 9/16/2008 11:24 AM, and on a whim, jaredean
pounded out on the keyboard:

thanks for this information...i tried it and i was able to get into
the task manager, run the command you gave me and all it did was start
that process (rstrui.exe), but it didn't start system restore...man,
SO CLOSE!!!

any other suggestions? i have the Windows CD and know how to get into
the recovery console, but havne't really done much in there before and
wanted to do a system restore if possible...

jared

Jared,

You could try a Repair install, as it seems some components are either
missing or damaged. I doubt you'd be able to run SFC (System File
Check) either if System Restore won't launch from TM.


--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[PaulM]

You typed in c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
correct?

--

 

[jaredean]

Thanks Terry...that is what i was afraid of...i'll give that a try and
hope for the best...

jared

 

[jaredean]

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe