Blank desktop after logging on to Windows 2000 Server

[Felix Imafidon]

I tried to install Internet Explorer 6 SP1 in windows
2000 server from the internet. During the intallation, I
was asked to slot in win 2000 CD, which I promptly did,
but to my surprise the computer rebooted. After logging
on I could not see any desktop or icons anymore. Could
anyone please help me out of this problem ?

Thank you for your cooperation

Felix

 

[Joseph Conway [MSFT]]

Can you see them in safe mode? Sounds like IE didnt go in properly. Was AV
running on the machine during the install? Try booting into safe mode and
rolling back IE and then reinstalling it.

 

[Gr8DaddyG]

Felix,

This has happened to me before and believe me; I've tried everything
out there from the Windows Repair solution to replacing the shell.dll
file to no avail. The ONLY thing I have found that actually works was
through my own trial and error. I have determined that explorer.exe
is running out of sequence when you reboot your PC. Here's what to
do:

1.Reboot PC
2.Windows XP runs without desktop icons or start bar (blank desktop)
3.Wait 30 seconds or so to allow boot sequence to run
4.Hit Ctrl,Alt,Del (the three-fingered salute)
5.Click the "Processes" tab and look for "explorer.exe"
6.Now click it, and then click the "End Process" button
7.You will receive a Task Manager Warning, blah, blah, blah…click YES
8.Now click "File" in the upper left and click "New Task (Run…)"
9.In the field, type: "explorer.exe" (without the "") and click "OK"
10.Your icons and start bar will pop up instantly…Voila, you're done!

I do not know the root cause of the problem, or how to permanently fix
it; I only know that it will happen from time to time and this is the
only thing that seems to work for me. If you are using Win2000 or
Win98, I don't know if the Task Manager looks the same for you, but if
you understand what's happening, then maybe you can figure out a way
to end explorer.exe and run it again in sequence. Hope this helps.

-Garrett