Desktop Icons and Taskbar disappear completely

[Guest]

I have a Windows 2000 server and something has changed on it such that it
does not display any desktop icons and the Taskbar. It also will not allow me
to display the properties of the desktop by using the right click of the
mouse. I has loaded however because I can connect to the server from my
various workstations, like normal.

The only thing I can do is the <ctrl><alt><del> to bring up the windows
security screen. From there I seem to be able to run most things if I can fnd
the executable file.

I initially thought it must have been a virus but I checked my virus
software and made sure it was up to date and it has been unable to find
anything.

I cannot add any icons either. it is as if the actual desktop software is
not running.
I have shut it down and restarted it but it has made no difference.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Galen]

I have a Windows 2000 server and something has changed on it such that it
does not display any desktop icons and the Taskbar. It also will not allow
me
to display the properties of the desktop by using the right click of the
mouse. I has loaded however because I can connect to the server from my
various workstations, like normal.

The only thing I can do is the <ctrl><alt><del> to bring up the windows
security screen. From there I seem to be able to run most things if I can
fnd
the executable file.

I initially thought it must have been a virus but I checked my virus
software and made sure it was up to date and it has been unable to find
anything.

I cannot add any icons either. it is as if the actual desktop software is
not running.
I have shut it down and restarted it but it has made no difference.

Thanks for any help.

What happens if you bring up the task manager, click on file, run a new
task, and type in explorer.exe? If that opens the desktop try rebooting once
it's open. If it doesn't then it's time to backup your data and to do a
repair installation usually. Does the desktop show up in safe mode?

Galen
--

"And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability with
which he prefaced it, was,
if you will believe me, Watson, the very first thing which ever made me feel
that a profession might be
made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[Dave Patrick]

Check that explorer.exe is the default shell to start. Look at the Reg_Sz
string value of;
"Shell"="Explorer.exe"
found at
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Else these may help you.


No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000 (Q256194)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q256194

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q292/1/75.ASP

What an In-Place Windows 2000 Upgrade Changes and What It Does Not Change
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306952


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I have a Windows 2000 server and something has changed on it such that it
| does not display any desktop icons and the Taskbar. It also will not allow
me
| to display the properties of the desktop by using the right click of the
| mouse. I has loaded however because I can connect to the server from my
| various workstations, like normal.
|
| The only thing I can do is the <ctrl><alt><del> to bring up the windows
| security screen. From there I seem to be able to run most things if I can
fnd
| the executable file.
|
| I initially thought it must have been a virus but I checked my virus
| software and made sure it was up to date and it has been unable to find
| anything.
|
| I cannot add any icons either. it is as if the actual desktop software is
| not running.
| I have shut it down and restarted it but it has made no difference.
|
| Thanks for any help.

 

[Guest]

What happens if you bring up the task manager, click on file, run a new
task, and type in explorer.exe? If that opens the desktop try rebooting once
it's open. If it doesn't then it's time to backup your data and to do a
repair installation usually. Does the desktop show up in safe mode?

Galen
--

"And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability with
which he prefaced it, was,
if you will believe me, Watson, the very first thing which ever made me feel
that a profession might be
made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby."

Sherlock Holmes


Hi Galen

When I run explorer.exe it does start and I can move between the drives that
I have configured. I can also seem to run a variety of different tasks. The
other thing that is happening - while I cannot change any desktop settings
the screen saver is coming on alright.

Thanks again for all your help.

Michael

 

[Galen]

In Michael Boyd <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

When I run explorer.exe it does start and I can move between the
drives that I have configured. I can also seem to run a variety of
different tasks. The other thing that is happening - while I cannot
change any desktop settings the screen saver is coming on alright.

Thanks again for all your help.

Michael

At least you've managed to get that far. There's a response from Dave
Patrick with a couple of ideas and a registry item that you can check as
well. I've found that not being able to adjust the desktop settings is
usually either a registry block or gpedit block with one notable exception.
Sometimes it is due to malware's ill effects. A decent scan of your PC in
safe mode would be the next logical check I think followed by the links and
information given by Mr. Patrick.

Galen
--

"And that recommendation, with the exaggerated estimate of my ability
with which he prefaced it, was, if you will believe me, Watson, the
very first thing which ever made me feel that a profession might be
made out of what had up to that time been the merest hobby."

Sherlock Holmes