Desktop Missing after Login

[RL]

All of a sudden, my Windows XP Home started to behave very
strange. When I boot the machine up it boots to the user
login screen fine. I get the normal 2 user login icon.
However, when I click on either login, it plays the
Windows startup tone, and then it just come to the desktop
wallpaper image but then it stops. I dont'see start
button, the task bar, or any of the icons on the desktop,
no program in the startup folder is started. That's it, I
can't run any program and all I see is the wallpaper. If
I use ctrl-alt-del I get the task manager and no
applicaion is running. When I look at the Processes tab,
I see all processes use zero CPU resource and the syste is
just idel (99% for System Idle Process).

If I use the task manager to shutdown, then it tries
terminate "explorer.exe" but could not ang give me a "End
Program - explorer.exe". Once I ended it I hear a Windows
shutdown tune and then the machine is restarted.

If I boot using safe mode then I see all the desktop
icons, task bar, start button again.

Any idea what's going on here?

 

[flowergardener]

Right-click on the desktop. Click on Arrange Icons. Then check mark Show
Desktop Icons. The task bar probably is shifted off the bottom of the
screen. Move your mouse to the bottom until you see the cursor change to
arrow heads. Drag the task bar up into view.

 

[RL]

It does not appear that the desktop is loaded at all.
Anyone know what process or program is reponsible for
loading the desktop?

 

[Guest]

I've been experiencing very similar symptoms. No icons on any user login. No start button or task bar. And the right mouse button does not do anything when clicked on the desktop. The only thing showing is the wallpaper. Using the "New Task" option from the task manager, I am able to verify that the desktop icons are in tact and can open and run them. However, I can't drag any shortcuts directly to the desktop.

Unlike RL, I am unable see the icons when I start-up in safe mode. This problem began several days ago but I can't tie it to a specific event. Any ideas? Could it be a virus?

cab0419