desktop problems?

[Guest]

I upgraded to Vista a couple of days ago. Then one time all of a sudden when
I successfully typed in my password and loged into the system, all that
appeared was the My Documents window and a black desktop in the background.
There are no desktop icons and no taskbar at the botton of the screen,
nothing. I've tried restarting the laptop on several occasions but the same
thing occurs. When I go into the Control Panel and try to select the Taskbar
option nothing happens. What is strange is that when I play a video that is
contained in the my documents folder Windows Media player works perfectly ok.
Likewise when I open up pictures or word documents, the progams seem to work.
I am worried the computer may have picked up some sort of weird virus!
Please help!

 

[dean-dean]

Try this. When your at your almost blank Desktop, press Ctrl+Alt+Del on
your keyboard and open Task Manager. On the Processes tab of Task Manager,
if explorer.exe is running, right-click on it and Choose End Process. If it
doesn't restart automatically, switch to the Applications tab, and from the
File menu, choose New Task. Type explorer.exe in the Run box, and press
Enter on your key board.

If explorer.exe is not running on the Processes tab, switch to the
Applications tab, and from the File menu, choose New Task. Type
explorer.exe in the Run box, and press Enter on your key board.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Click start and type "regedit", then hit <enter>. Expand the branches to
reach this one:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Click on the Winlogon key (folder) and look for the shell string in the
right pane. Double click it, then delete the contents and replace it with
just "explorer.exe" (without the quotes). Click ok and close the registry
editor, then reboot to see if this helps.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

The additional entries often come from shell enhancement software and spy/ad
programs, especially those designed for early versions of Windows. Removing
them usually resolves the problem.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[James Matthews]

What was your issue?

 

[Lily]

hye,rick rogers..
i have the same problem like oralay..
n i already use the way u ask to..
i click ctrl+alt+del..
then,go to file n new task..
n type "regedit" as u ask..
but the results turns to fail n its write "registry editing has been disable
by your administrator"..
help me please!
my desktop turn blank n no task menu or even task bar..

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Try this link:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articl...pen-the-Registry-Editor-in-Windows-Vista.html

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Lily]

i already try that link..
but the following instruction ask to click "start"..
my desktop blank..
n dont even have task bar..
how can i click "start" button at the task bar..
my desktop blank..
dont have icon..
task bar..
or anything..
just have one file that can open internet,picture n etc.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

The same way as you are trying to run regedit. Click 'new task' from Task
Manager, then browse to the location where you saved the file and select it.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

i already try that link..
but the following instruction ask to click "start"..
my desktop blank..
n dont even have task bar..
how can i click "start" button at the task bar..
my desktop blank..
dont have icon..
task bar..
or anything..
just have one file that can open internet,picture n etc.

 

[ash_chaingang]

Thanks so much Rick...
your simple steps helped me so much! : )
i was really starting to regret getting Vista for the whole 'blank desktop'
deal.
but your advise completely solved the problem!!!
thnx again!!!
-Jimmy

 

[Tom Goodall]

Rick, I just felt I should say thankyou.. what with the amount of people
you've probably helped here and none saying thanks!

Had the blank desktop, but works perfectly after following your
instructions. Cheers from England!

-Tom

 

[Alex Flower]

What is the shell String. Did everything up to that but you then lost me at
Click on the Winlogon key (folder) and look for the shell string in the
right pane. Double click it, then delete the contents and replace it with
just "explorer.exe" (without the quotes). Click ok and close the registry
editor, then reboot to see if this helps.

 

[PaulM]

Go here:
http://www.paulsxp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=108

Download ListWinlogon and run the script, it will list what is in the
Winlogon Key.