blank screen at boot up

[godfather]

When I tried to boot my pc this morning I received the welcome screen
but wound up with a blank desktop. I tried system restore back to
yesterday, booting to the last known config that worked, safe mode and
safe mode with command prompt. I still received the blank screen.


I was able to access the task manager and I clicked on new task and
typed in desktop. The desktop appeared along with an error screen


Windows cannot find '/idlist,:01844,C:\Documents'. Make
sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To
search for a file, click the Start button, and then click
search.

I clicked on ok and the error message went away.

When I reboot the same thing happens. I ran a file search on idlist
and found nothing.


I have not tried to run repair yet. Does anyone have any suggestion to
solve this problem so I can reboot successfully?

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

Restore the Desktop/Taskbar to Default

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

EXE and LNK Fix for Windows XP - Line 12
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by
right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

 

[godfather]

Hi

Thanks for the input.

I imported both the exe and the lnk fix reg files and when I rebooted
I still wound up with a blank screen and the error message.

any other ideas

 

[Kelly]

Do you happen to have a PDF in C:\Documents named: /idlist,:01844?
If so, try renaming it to: /idlist,%I,%L.

Have you been troubleshooting Save Target As? Either way, David has some
great information here that would pertain to why it won't be found via
Start/Search:

Things only exist within the namespace when their containers are opened,
either by programming or by opening a folder window. Therefore only
things on the Desktop exist all the time (ie all the time you are logged
in). Things in search don't exist because their containing folder isn't
opened (which is why some multi operations don't work in search).

As a container is opened the objects are given ID numbers that last only
as long as the container is opened. This is when it exists within the
shell's namespace. However most programs don't use the shell's namespace
but use traditional file paths.

The numbers will change for each search. I choose a
file on the desktop as it stays constant till logoff or a crash happens
as the Desktop folder is always open.

David is offline right now, but will let him know about this thread. Good
luck in the meantime.

 

[David Candy]

Type explorer not desktop. Then look in Event Viewer for an error message. There may be two (a useless one and a usefull one)

 

[Kelly]

Thanks, David. )




Type explorer not desktop. Then look in Event Viewer for an error message.
There may be two (a useless one and a usefull one)

 

[godfather]

I tried that and checked out event viewer and saw 3 error messages and
2 warnings but I don't know how to deal with them to make any
corrections.

 

[David Candy]

You tell us what they are and what happened when you typed just explorer. Also Start Internet Explorer and type C:\ in the address bar. Describe what happens.

 

[godfather]

Hi David



When I type in desktop I received the error message on the screen and
I lose my quick launch icons. There were no error messages or warnings
in event viewer as a result of this rebooting.

Windows cannot find '/idlist,:01844,C:\Documents'. Make
sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To
search for a file, click the Start button, and then click
search. Each time I reboot and type in desktop I receive the same
error mesage but the 5 numbers are different.

I typed in explorer and I received no error message on the screen and
my desktop reappeared. I lost my quick launch icons and had to
reinstate them. The event viewer did not include any warnings or
errors as a result of my rebooting.

If you need the info from the error messages and warnings I received
in earlier todaylet me know and I will provide them.

When I opened internet explorer and typed in c:\ the folder and file
contents of my C drive appeared on the screen.

I really appreciate your help in this!!

Ron

 

[David Candy]

Typing desktop isn't going to wotk unless explorer is already running. There is nothing wrong with this behaviour (except explorer should start as well as the error - the desktop is the user folder but it doesn't exist if explorer isn't running cause it has to open the parent folder first).

Firstly some general fixes
Type in Start Run

regsvr32 /i shell32
regsvr32 shdocvw

Then check that
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
shell=explorer.exe

In Internet Eplorer, Tools - Internet Options - Advanced and turn off Enable Third Parties Browser Extensions.

 

[godfather]

Typing desktop isn't going to wotk unless explorer is already running. There is nothing wrong with this behaviour (except explorer should start as well as the error - the desktop is the user folder but it doesn't exist if explorer isn't running cause it has to open the parent folder first).

Firstly some general fixes
Type in Start Run

regsvr32 /i shell32
regsvr32 shdocvw

Done - accepted

Then check that
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
shell=explorer.exe
OK


In Internet Eplorer, Tools - Internet Options - Advanced and turn off Enable Third Parties Browser Extensions.

I unchecked it


I rebooted and still had a blank screen - typed in explorer and
desktop appeared. Once again my quick launch icons were not present.


any other ideas?

thanks

 

[David Candy]

I'm about to go to sleep, can't think. I'll answer later.

 

[godfather]

I'm about to go to sleep, can't think. I'll answer later.

Ok thanks

 

[David Candy]

Forget your QL icons, easily fixed when main prob fixed.

If you have Pro type (if not email me saying so but other replies here) in Start Run while explorer is running.

tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > "%userprofile%\desktop\ExplorerModule.txt"

And if your desktop is in a standard place a text file will appear on it.

Also check
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
and make sure there is no shell line. (should be 3 sub entries and a sub key). This overrides, if present, the previous one I had you check.

 

[godfather]

Forget your QL icons, easily fixed when main prob fixed.

If you have Pro type (if not email me saying so but other replies here) in Start Run while explorer is running.

tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > "%userprofile%\desktop\ExplorerModule.t


And if your desktop is in a standard place a text file will appear on it.

When I tried this a box flashed on my screen but no text file
appeared. It looked like a dos box over another one

Also check
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
and make sure there is no shell line. (should be 3 sub entries and a sub key). This overrides, if present, the previous one I had you check.

There is no shell line


the box contains:

Name Type Data

(default) REG_SZ (value not set)

BuildNumber REG_DWORD 0x00000a28 (2600)

ExcludeProfileDirs REG_SZ Local Settings;Temporary
Internet Files:History;Temp

ParesAutoexec REG_SZ 1



I rebooted and confirmed that the problem still exists

 

[David Candy]

Try it with

cmd /k tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > "%userprofile%\desktop\ExplorerModule.txt"

or

cmd /k tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > c:\ExplorerModule.txt
and it will be in C:\

You didn't say if you use pro.

I leave home now to watch sun come up while walking Clovelly to North Bondi. It takes 3 hours there and back. Might see a whale if I'm lucky.

 

[godfather]

Try it with

cmd /k tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > "%userprofile%\desktop\ExplorerModule.txt"

or

cmd /k tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > c:\ExplorerModule.txt
and it will be in C:\

I have the file - its contents are

Image Name PID Modules
========================= ======
=============================================
explorer.exe 1920 ntdll.dll, kernel32.dll, msvcrt.dll,
ADVAPI32.dll, RPCRT4.dll, GDI32.dll,
USER32.dll, SHLWAPI.dll, SHELL32.dll,
ole32.dll, OLEAUT32.dll,BROWSEUI.dll,
SHDOCVW.dll, UxTheme.dll,
comctl32.dll,
comctl32.dll, appHelp.dll,
CLBCATQ.DLL,
COMRes.dll, VERSION.dll, cscui.dll,
CSCDLL.dll, themeui.dll, Secur32.dll,
MSIMG32.dll, USERENV.dll,
actxprxy.dll,
NETAPI32.dll, SAMLIB.dll,
WININET.dll,
CRYPT32.dll, MSASN1.dll, ntshrui.dll,
ATL.DLL, SETUPAPI.dll, LINKINFO.dll,
urlmon.dll, NETSHELL.dll, credui.dll,
WS2_32.dll, WS2HELP.dll,
iphlpapi.dll,
XAHook.dll, WINMM.dll, WINTRUST.dll,
IMAGEHLP.dll, rsaenh.dll,
browselc.dll,
WINSTA.dll, webcheck.dll,
stobject.dll,
BatMeter.dll, POWRPROF.dll,
WTSAPI32.dll,
LgMousHk.dll, wdmaud.drv, msi.dll,
DUSER.dll, msacm32.drv, MSACM32.dll,
midimap.dll, msohev.dll, printui.dll,
WINSPOOL.DRV, ACTIVEDS.dll,
adsldpc.dll,
WLDAP32.dll, CFGMGR32.dll, MPR.dll,
drprov.dll, ntlanman.dll, NETUI0.dll,
NETUI1.dll, NETRAP.dll, davclnt.dll,
SXS.DLL

You didn't say if you use pro.

yes I have pro

I leave home now to watch sun come up while walking Clovelly to North Bondi. It takes 3 hours there and back. Might see a whale if I'm lucky.

good luck seeing a whale!!!

 

[godfather]

Try it with

cmd /k tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > "%userprofile%\desktop\ExplorerModule.txt"

or

cmd /k tasklist /m /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe" > c:\ExplorerModule.txt
and it will be in C:\

I have the file - its contents are

Image Name PID Modules
========================= ======
=============================================
explorer.exe 1920 ntdll.dll, kernel32.dll, msvcrt.dll,
ADVAPI32.dll, RPCRT4.dll, GDI32.dll,
USER32.dll, SHLWAPI.dll, SHELL32.dll,
ole32.dll, OLEAUT32.dll,BROWSEUI.dll,
SHDOCVW.dll, UxTheme.dll,
comctl32.dll,
comctl32.dll, appHelp.dll,
CLBCATQ.DLL,
COMRes.dll, VERSION.dll, cscui.dll,
CSCDLL.dll, themeui.dll, Secur32.dll,
MSIMG32.dll, USERENV.dll,
actxprxy.dll,
NETAPI32.dll, SAMLIB.dll,
WININET.dll,
CRYPT32.dll, MSASN1.dll, ntshrui.dll,
ATL.DLL, SETUPAPI.dll, LINKINFO.dll,
urlmon.dll, NETSHELL.dll, credui.dll,
WS2_32.dll, WS2HELP.dll,
iphlpapi.dll,
XAHook.dll, WINMM.dll, WINTRUST.dll,
IMAGEHLP.dll, rsaenh.dll,
browselc.dll,
WINSTA.dll, webcheck.dll,
stobject.dll,
BatMeter.dll, POWRPROF.dll,
WTSAPI32.dll,
LgMousHk.dll, wdmaud.drv, msi.dll,
DUSER.dll, msacm32.drv, MSACM32.dll,
midimap.dll, msohev.dll, printui.dll,
WINSPOOL.DRV, ACTIVEDS.dll,
adsldpc.dll,
WLDAP32.dll, CFGMGR32.dll, MPR.dll,
drprov.dll, ntlanman.dll, NETUI0.dll,
NETUI1.dll, NETRAP.dll, davclnt.dll,
SXS.DLL

You didn't say if you use pro.

yes I have pro

I leave home now to watch sun come up while walking Clovelly to North Bondi. It takes 3 hours there and back. Might see a whale if I'm lucky.

good luck seeing a whale!!!

 

[David Candy]

In the local_machine key you checked earlier replace shell=explorer.exe with cmd.exe

 

[godfather]

I changed it and when I rebooted I had a blank screen again. When I
typed in explorer as a new task I saw my c drive contents and could
not get to my desktop. I went back to regedit and changed back to
explorer.exe. When I rebooted I got my blank screen; typing explorer
as a new task produced my desktop again.

For what it is worth I checked the running processes and winlogon.exe
is running when I reboot but explorer.exe is not and when I changed
the value to cmd.exe it was not listed as a running process.

any other ideas?