|
|
| "Richard in AZ" wrote:
|
| >
| > | > | Recently I've found applications either will not open to show on the desktop
| > | - the application will appear in the menu bar along the bottom of the
| > | desktop, but nothing I do will make it appear on the desktop itself (thus I
| > | can't use it). Sometimes after opening and operating OK for a while the
| > | application will suddenly disappear from the desktop (although the name
| > | remains in the menu bar below). If I try Start > run > type in name of
| > | application (eg Outlook Express) I get a message along the lines "Cannot
| > | start MS Outlook Express. The command line argument is not valid. Verify
| > | the switch you are using."
| > |
| > | Any suggestions appreciated or I might have to re-load the entire OS.
| >
| > Have you tried right-clicking on the taskbar button and choosing "restore" to re-enter the
program
| > on the desktop?
| >
| > If you want to start Outlook Express from the "run" command line you have to type in "msimn.exe"
and
| > not "outlook express".
| >
| >
| > Thanks Richard.
| Unfortunately "Restore" option is greyed out when I right click in Task Bar.
| Trying Start > Run > msimn.exe results in same problem. O/Express opens on
| initial welcome page for a few seconds, then dies although it shows in Task
| Bar.
|
| Have found this problem applies to more than just applications - Control
| Panel will now not open, although shows in Task Bar and sometimes even My
| Documents folder will "die" after being on desktop for a couple of hours -
| remains in Task Bar. At least I can close that one and re-open but the
| others simply won't show at all.
|
| I've d/loaded and run RegCure and Spybot to see if that would help, but no
| improvement. Just thought I'd try Help before maybe completely stripping
| hard drive and reinstalling XP Pro. That might be a bit of a mission for
| non-techo like me!
|
| I'm using a Toshiba TE2100 laptop I bought from former employer which was
| originally linked to a network, so I'm now working off line. But system was
| fine for more than 12 months so don't think former network is an issue. This
| is a relatively recent problem.
Sounds like you have a malware infection.
Before you try the "clean install" download** a copy of malwarebytes (
www.malwarebytes.org) and
after installation (and update if possible) restart in the Safe Mode and run the malwarebytes on a
thorough scan.
**Use another computer for the download and save to a flash drive for installation.
If you have to do a clean installation, go to the Toshiba support site and download all the drivers
required before you start the installation. Borrow a pc to do this and make a CD with the required
drivers. Also, backup as much of your personal data as possible before the reinstallation.
