Can't bring up the Start menu to use System Restore

[Guest]

After turning on my computer, purchased in 2003, (Windows XP) and typing in
my password, the desktop comes up but there is nothing on the desktop. No
windows and can not get the start button to appear no matter what I do. Can
use Ctrl-Alt-Delete combination to get the task manager but cannot find the
restore button or the recycle bin through the task manager. NEED TO SAVE THE
DATA ON MY HARD DRIVE. The mess began after I deleted Service Pack 2 and
some other items. Was going to reinstall after deleting...but the computer
didn't give me the chance. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Guest]

If you still can run task manager then after opening it, click on the file
menu and choose New Task (Run) ... then type explorer.exe and press OK

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

How did you remove service pack 2? From Control Panel's Add-Remove programs?

I think you're looking at having to start the pc & try to get into Safe Mode. When the pc is powering up or when you restart it (which you can do from Task Manager if ever needed) .... tap & repeat tapping the F8 function key right away. You'll get a selective startup menu.
Use the keyboard arrow keys to select "Safe Mode". Hopefully you can login and then save your data.

If the removal of SP2 was not done properly, with a proper & sucessful finish, you may not be able to use Safe mode.

On top of that, if the whole Windows setup is corrupted, a System Restore operation is not the best solution.

Looking ahead, a repair-installation 'may' be called for. Do you have a Windows XP setup CD? (not a system recovery CD).