Help: Blank Desktop Problem

[Searcher7]

I'm posting this from the local library because last night I
attempted
to do the "right thing" and run a full system scan using Avast!

When I got up it was "finished" except that now it offered the option
for a "boot scan".

I didn't want to have to go all day without my system while it was
scanning and so re-booted in an attempt to get back on line.

Now, wvwn though I can get as far as my Desktop, the task bar and the
icons do not load. So I cannot do anything. I even have to pull the
plug out of the case in order to turn off the machine.

I can bring up the Task manager.(For all the good that does).

I'd appreciate any ideas on how to correct this problem.

My system is a Dell, Pentium 3, 833mhz, 512mb, running Windows XP.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Tim Meddick]

This is most likely to be caused by a corrupted user profile, and this can
be tested by creating a new user account.

Start Windows in "Safe Mode" (Switch on the PC and repeatedly press the
[F8] key to bring up the Windows Boot Menu, then choose "Start Windows in
Safe Mode")

You will see the Administrator account on the Welcome Screen instead of
your usual profile's icon. You should be able to just click on
"Administrator" without the need to enter a password (unless you have
specifically assigned one since getting your PC).

Once you have logged-in as Administrator in Safe Mode, go to the Control
Panel and select "User Accounts". Create for yourself a NEW USER ACCOUNT
making sure you give it a different name to that you had before - even if
it differs by only one character.

Come out of "User Accounts" and reboot your machine. Start your PC
normally, and log-into the new account, which should work fine.

You may need to transfer all your data-files (Music, Pictures and other
Documents) from the old profile to the new.

Depending on whether you have chosen to make your new account a "Limited"
or a "Administrator-level" account, you may need to boot back into Safe
Mode to log-in to the Administrator account again to be able to access the
old account's "My Documents" folder, in order to transfer the data-files to
the new account's Documents folder.

A profile's "My Documents" folder is located in :

"C:\Documents and Settings\%Username%\My Documents"

....where %Username% stands for the different user-names on your system.



==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Industrial One]

I'm posting this from the local library because last night I
attempted
to do the "right thing" and run a full system scan using Avast!

When I got up it was "finished" except that now it offered the option
for a "boot scan".

I didn't want to have to go all day without my system while it was
scanning and so re-booted  in an attempt to get back on line.

Now, wvwn though I can get as far as my Desktop, the task bar and the
icons do not load. So I cannot do anything. I even have to pull the
plug out of the case in order to turn off the machine.

I can bring up the Task manager.(For all the good that does).

I'd appreciate any ideas on how to correct this problem.

My system is a Dell, Pentium 3, 833mhz, 512mb, running Windows XP.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Run a malware scan. You're likely infected with H@TKEYSH@@K or some
desktop hijacker. In the meantime, see if you can run Explorer.exe via
Task Manager.