Desktop icons and taskbar are gone

[Jay Mc]

I have noticed that when booting up my Sony laptop
computer, the icons would take awhile to come up. Now they
don't come up at all and there is no taskbar. All I have
is the photo I use for the background on my desktop. I can
pull up task manager by clicking ctnl, alt and delete.

I can't use my computer this way,,,any ideas on how to fix
this?


Mc

 

[Chris Lanier]

Greetings, Please post your results back here.

There is a very good chance this is being caused by a virus.

Reboot Windows XP into Safe Mode
--How to start Windows XP in Safe mode--
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001060608000039

1) Goto Start>>Run>>Type "regedit"
2) Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and delete
"Explorer %SYSTEM%\Explorer.exe"
3) Reboot your PC as normal.

If that doesnt work...

Reboot Windows XP into Safe Mode
--How to start Windows XP in Safe mode--
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001060608000039

1) Open My Computer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32. Search in the
System32 directory for "explore.exe" or "explorer.exe" If the file exists
delete it.
2) Goto http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and scan your either system for
virus.
3) Reboot your PC.

NOTE: Do NOT delete "explorer.exe" from your C:\Windows directory!

You may try the following if you don't boot into Safe Mode.

1) Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
2) Goto the Applications Tab
3) Click New Task...
4) Type "C:\Windows\explorer.exe", hit Enter
5) Open My Computer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32. Search in the
System32 directory for "explore.exe" or "explorer.exe" If the file exists
delete it.

NOTE: Do NOT delete "explorer.exe" from your C:\Windows directory!

Also try a virus scan to clean things up.
1) Open Internet Explorer
2) Goto http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ and scan your either system for
virus.
3) Reboot your PC and see if you now have a desktop.

If that doesnt work goto...
Line 195 "Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar"
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Run the VBS script and then reboot your PC.

---If none of the above help i would suggest trying a repair install of
Windows XP.---

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

----More Help for No Desktop/No Taskbar----

W32.Aplore Removal Information
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]

W32.HLLP.Handy Removal Information (P.S. Written in Delphi!, interesting)
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.hllp.handy.html

Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q318027