Can't Shut Down or Restart

[Guest]

I'm using Windows XP on a Dell Laptop, and I've encountered some big
problems. My destop image is showing, but I have no icons, toolbars, or
Start Menu. I'm able to run some programs using 'New Task' in the Task
Manager, but many of my documents and programs aren't showing up when I
browse. I've been trying to restart or shut down, but when I choose the Shut
Down option, nothing happens. The power button has no effect either, and
removing the battery does shut the computer down, but after replacing the
battery I am immediately returned to the same blank screen; the startup
process does not run.
I suspect a virus of some kind, but am stumped as to how to remove it when
the Control Panel and my anti-virus programs are all grayed-out and
inaccessable. Can anyone shed some light as to the best course of action?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please try the following link to Jim Eshelman's web site:

http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.php

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Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Guest]

Well, I found a fix for the first problem (no start bar or icons) in an
earlier post; that was easy. That link was a good idea, but I couldn't find
a solution there that I could use. I ended up browsing randomly through
programs and stumbled across a fix: I opened the Start Menu and selected
'Run...', then entered "MSCONFIG". I clicked 'Launch System Restore' and
selected the last date that I had used the computer when it was working
properly. The computer shut itself down, rebooted and now seems to be in
perfect working order.

 

[Will Denny]

Glad your problem is sorted.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups