Troubleshooting - Blank screen - Loss of all icons & toolbars

[Guest]

Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also as
normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.

At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
"evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I can
do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the task
manager. The task manager shows no applications running.

When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen isn't
blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing I
can see is my pointer.

Any idea what's going on and how to fix?

Thanks

 

[Dave Patrick]

Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[Guest]

You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John

 

[John John]

You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:

Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[Dave Patrick]

After you run cmd.exe then;
cd %systemroot%

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
| registry keys.
|
| However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....
|
| In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
| manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.
|
| Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
| "CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
| CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
| folders named %systemroot%.
|
| How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of
SHDOCVW.DLL?
|
| Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.
|
| John

 

[Guest]

Still no luck...

I found the root directory...c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and renamed schdocvw.dll to
shdocvw.old and restarted like the article said to do. Have the same problem.

I also did the regedit but could not find the key
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) that Patrick
referenced.

Is this the correct key, or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks

John

You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:

Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[Guest]

Patrick....I can't find the Key you reference. Could it be under another
name by chance?

Thanks for your help.

John

 

[Dave Patrick]

Tell us exactly where you're looking.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dave....I can't find the Key you reference. Could it be under another
| name by chance?
|
| Thanks for your help.
|
| John

 

[John John]

Obviously you can't start explorer.exe? Try repairing Internet Explorer.

For IE6:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"


The Command is case sensitive.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;194177

John

Still no luck...

I found the root directory...c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and renamed schdocvw.dll to
shdocvw.old and restarted like the article said to do. Have the same problem.

I also did the regedit but could not find the key
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) that Patrick
referenced.

Is this the correct key, or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks

John

:

You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:



Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[Guest]

After using Task Manger to run regedit, I went to the Edit menu and selected
"FIND". Then I searched on many different portions of the key you gave me.
I thought I was pretty thorough and searched for about 90 minutes.

There are 5 Main directories in my registry, they are

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKEY_USERS
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

I've looked through them all. One thing I might mention....there is nothing
in my registry containing "HKLM\"....only "HKLM,".

In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\ADVANCED INF
SETUP\IE5BAK\REGBACKUP\O.MAP

There is a registry key named a41f032cf6351987 with the following value:

,33,HKLM,SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS
NT\CURRENTVERSION\COMPATIBILLITY2,IEXPLORE5.1,

Do you suppose that's it?

There are a number of keys I can find that contain a value containing:

,33,HKLM,SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS ....without the "NT" (too many to
list here).

Am I barking up the right tree? Thanks again for you help.

John

 

[Dave Patrick]

HKLM = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
so
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| After using Task Manger to run regedit, I went to the Edit menu and
selected
| "FIND". Then I searched on many different portions of the key you gave
me.
| I thought I was pretty thorough and searched for about 90 minutes.
|
| There are 5 Main directories in my registry, they are
|
| HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
| HKEY_CURRENT_USER
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
| HKEY_USERS
| HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG
|
| I've looked through them all. One thing I might mention....there is
nothing
| in my registry containing "HKLM\"....only "HKLM,".
|
| In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\ADVANCED INF
| SETUP\IE5BAK\REGBACKUP\O.MAP
|
| There is a registry key named a41f032cf6351987 with the following value:
|
| ,33,HKLM,SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS
| NT\CURRENTVERSION\COMPATIBILLITY2,IEXPLORE5.1,
|
| Do you suppose that's it?
|
| There are a number of keys I can find that contain a value containing:
|
| ,33,HKLM,SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS ....without the "NT" (too many to
| list here).
|
| Am I barking up the right tree? Thanks again for you help.
|
| John

 

[Guest]

Got it....OK, found the key you're talking about. The shell is set to
Explorer.exe.

I'm going to go back through this discussion thread from you and John to be
sure I've checked everything else.

Thanks again for you help (and your patience!).

John

 

[Guest]

Nope....can't run explorer.exe.

I ran your command below and got a system message that said: "Internet
Explorer 6 could not be repaired. Please run Setup again to reinstall all
componenets."

The Details tab said: "Internet Explorer 6 cannot be repaired due to the
followiing errors: Version 5.0.3700.6668 of file SHDOCVW.DLL exists, but the
version needs to be greater than 6.0..2800.1100."

On a hunch, I changed the "6" to a "5" in the command and reran it but got
the same message. Is there another I should use?

Thanks

John

Obviously you can't start explorer.exe? Try repairing Internet Explorer.

For IE6:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"


The Command is case sensitive.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;194177

John

Still no luck...

I found the root directory...c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and renamed schdocvw.dll to
shdocvw.old and restarted like the article said to do. Have the same problem.

I also did the regedit but could not find the key
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) that Patrick
referenced.

Is this the correct key, or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks

John

:

You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

Kiser wrote:

You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:



Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[John John]

Unless you have the full IE install package on your machine you will
need to be connected to the internet to reinstall IE. Again, from your
Task Manager new task type control.exe netconnections . This will open
your dial up folder, select the appropriate connection and connect to
the net. Then, again from the new task type:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\ie6setup.exe If it bawls at you exit
and type this in the new task: appwiz.cpl This will open the
Add/Remove programs. Uninstall IE and start again with IE setup.

Keep your fingers crossed and do a prayer. If this doesn't work you
will probably have to do a Windows reinstall, not a fun thing on
Christmas day!

John

Nope....can't run explorer.exe.

I ran your command below and got a system message that said: "Internet
Explorer 6 could not be repaired. Please run Setup again to reinstall all
componenets."

The Details tab said: "Internet Explorer 6 cannot be repaired due to the
followiing errors: Version 5.0.3700.6668 of file SHDOCVW.DLL exists, but the
version needs to be greater than 6.0..2800.1100."

On a hunch, I changed the "6" to a "5" in the command and reran it but got
the same message. Is there another I should use?

Thanks

John


:

Obviously you can't start explorer.exe? Try repairing Internet Explorer.

For IE6:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"


The Command is case sensitive.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;194177

John


Kiser wrote:

Still no luck...

I found the root directory...c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and renamed schdocvw.dll to
shdocvw.old and restarted like the article said to do. Have the same problem.

I also did the regedit but could not find the key
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) that Patrick
referenced.

Is this the correct key, or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks

John

:



You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

Kiser wrote:


You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:




Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[Guest]

The crossed fingers and prayer worked!......It's Fixed!

I couldn't uninstall IE because it wasn't in my software list (not sure why)
when I did your command below. Regardless, I stumbled upon the executable
version and kicked it off, and that did the trick.

It's a mystery to me why fixing Internet Explorer would revive my desktop
and windows explorer but that's apparently what happened.

I can't thank you enough for helping me with this (especially on Christmas
day!)....but I'd like to try.

In addition to sending a favorable feedback on the thread, is there a name
and address I can send a letter too to give you an atta-boy? I'll need your
and Patrick's names too.

Thanks a bunch...and have a merry Christmas.

Unless you have the full IE install package on your machine you will
need to be connected to the internet to reinstall IE. Again, from your
Task Manager new task type control.exe netconnections . This will open
your dial up folder, select the appropriate connection and connect to
the net. Then, again from the new task type:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\ie6setup.exe If it bawls at you exit
and type this in the new task: appwiz.cpl This will open the
Add/Remove programs. Uninstall IE and start again with IE setup.

Keep your fingers crossed and do a prayer. If this doesn't work you
will probably have to do a Windows reinstall, not a fun thing on
Christmas day!

John

Nope....can't run explorer.exe.

I ran your command below and got a system message that said: "Internet
Explorer 6 could not be repaired. Please run Setup again to reinstall all
componenets."

The Details tab said: "Internet Explorer 6 cannot be repaired due to the
followiing errors: Version 5.0.3700.6668 of file SHDOCVW.DLL exists, but the
version needs to be greater than 6.0..2800.1100."

On a hunch, I changed the "6" to a "5" in the command and reran it but got
the same message. Is there another I should use?

Thanks

John


:

Obviously you can't start explorer.exe? Try repairing Internet Explorer.

For IE6:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"


The Command is case sensitive.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;194177

John


Kiser wrote:


Still no luck...

I found the root directory...c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and renamed schdocvw.dll to
shdocvw.old and restarted like the article said to do. Have the same problem.

I also did the regedit but could not find the key
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) that Patrick
referenced.

Is this the correct key, or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks

John

:



You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

Kiser wrote:


You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:




Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[John John]

That's ok. Your feedback here is welcome and appreciated. You can
leave a thank you message to Dave for his help. The Internet Explorer &
Windows Explorer thing is a long story but the two are so closely
intertwined that when IE has a hiccup Explorer croaks! I've never liked
the situation but alas it's not for us to decide what mistakes MS makes,
we just have to live with them. Fixing IE is sometimes the fix for
Explorer problems. Merry Christmas and thank you for the kind feedback.

John

The crossed fingers and prayer worked!......It's Fixed!

I couldn't uninstall IE because it wasn't in my software list (not sure why)
when I did your command below. Regardless, I stumbled upon the executable
version and kicked it off, and that did the trick.

It's a mystery to me why fixing Internet Explorer would revive my desktop
and windows explorer but that's apparently what happened.

I can't thank you enough for helping me with this (especially on Christmas
day!)....but I'd like to try.

In addition to sending a favorable feedback on the thread, is there a name
and address I can send a letter too to give you an atta-boy? I'll need your
and Patrick's names too.

Thanks a bunch...and have a merry Christmas.

:

Unless you have the full IE install package on your machine you will
need to be connected to the internet to reinstall IE. Again, from your
Task Manager new task type control.exe netconnections . This will open
your dial up folder, select the appropriate connection and connect to
the net. Then, again from the new task type:
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\ie6setup.exe If it bawls at you exit
and type this in the new task: appwiz.cpl This will open the
Add/Remove programs. Uninstall IE and start again with IE setup.

Keep your fingers crossed and do a prayer. If this doesn't work you
will probably have to do a Windows reinstall, not a fun thing on
Christmas day!

John

Nope....can't run explorer.exe.

I ran your command below and got a system message that said: "Internet
Explorer 6 could not be repaired. Please run Setup again to reinstall all
componenets."

The Details tab said: "Internet Explorer 6 cannot be repaired due to the
followiing errors: Version 5.0.3700.6668 of file SHDOCVW.DLL exists, but the
version needs to be greater than 6.0..2800.1100."

On a hunch, I changed the "6" to a "5" in the command and reran it but got
the same message. Is there another I should use?

Thanks

John


:



Obviously you can't start explorer.exe? Try repairing Internet Explorer.

For IE6:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"


The Command is case sensitive.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;194177

John


Kiser wrote:



Still no luck...

I found the root directory...c:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 and renamed schdocvw.dll to
shdocvw.old and restarted like the article said to do. Have the same problem.

I also did the regedit but could not find the key
(HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon) that Patrick
referenced.

Is this the correct key, or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks

John

:




You can run just about any program from the Task Manager. To look at
the registry key from the Task Manager File Menu >New Task type regedit
and you will be able to look at the registry key Dave mentioned. Try
running Explorer from the Task Manager and see what happens.
%systemroot% folder refers to the folder where Windows is installed,
usually Winnt.

John

Kiser wrote:



You lost me....I can't get to the point where I can look at any of the
registry keys.

However, your link (Q256194) helped me but I'm not quite there yet.....

In the resolution steps in that article, it says to go through the task
manager to run "cmd.exe". I got that far.

Then step 4 says to change to the %systemroot% folder....how do I do that?
"CMD.EXE" got me to the C:\Documents and settings\Adminstrator. If I do a
CD:\ I get down to the root (I think), but a "DIR" doesn't show me any
folders named %systemroot%.

How do I get access to that folder so I can change the hame of SHDOCVW.DLL?

Sorry to sound so "out of touch" but I really appreciate the help.

John





:





Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

The profile may also be corrupt or these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Not sure what happened, but when I start me computer, the start-up process
| looks normal and I get the login screen. When I log in, it proceeds also
as
| normal until I get to the point where my desktop is to display.
|
| At that point, my desktop is blank, I see the task bar populate then it
| "evaporates" and I'll I've got is a blank blue screen. The only thing I
can
| do is a ctrl-alt-del and get the shut down the computer or look at the
task
| manager. The task manager shows no applications running.
|
| When I rebooted in safe mode, I got to the same place only the screen
isn't
| blue, it's black. There is nothing on the screen at all. The only thing
I
| can see is my pointer.
|
| Any idea what's going on and how to fix?
|
| Thanks

 

[Eric]

Dave,

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I was working on my sister's
PC over Xmas and after a reboot, no Explorer shell. Your succinct answer had
my problem resolved in seconds. As an FYI her "Shell" value had
"c:\attdemo\acgshl.exe", which at first worried me, but a quick
investigation revealed it was for IBM Aptiva's demo. Why, I have no clue...

Thanks again!

 

[Dave Patrick]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for the feedback.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Dave,
|
| Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I was working on my
sister's
| PC over Xmas and after a reboot, no Explorer shell. Your succinct answer
had
| my problem resolved in seconds. As an FYI her "Shell" value had
| "c:\attdemo\acgshl.exe", which at first worried me, but a quick
| investigation revealed it was for IBM Aptiva's demo. Why, I have no
clue...
|
| Thanks again!

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much for this post (as well as Kiser for posting the original
question !) This fixed my problem and I have my desktop back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again, you guys certainly know your stuff and your help is greatly
appreciated !

Happy New Year.

 

[Dave Patrick]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for the feedback.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thank you so much for this post (as well as Kiser for posting the original
| question !) This fixed my problem and I have my desktop back
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
| Thanks again, you guys certainly know your stuff and your help is greatly
| appreciated !
|
| Happy New Year.