Icons Disappearing

  • Thread starter Thread starter cessna12
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cessna12

I am using XP Prof SP3. All icons on my disktop disappeared and I do not
have any right mouch click funtionality while in the desktop. Also cannot
get the task bar to come up (it was set to auto hide). Finally the only
thing I can do is a Ctrl-Alt-Del and that will bring up the task manager.

The only think on the desk top is my wall paper without any icons.

Help?

Bob
 
My reply is at the bottom of your sent message.

In
I am using XP Prof SP3. All icons on my disktop disappeared and I do not
have any right mouch click funtionality while in the desktop. Also cannot
get the task bar to come up (it was set to auto hide). Finally the only
thing I can do is a Ctrl-Alt-Del and that will bring up the task manager.

The only think on the desk top is my wall paper without any icons.

Help?

Bob
Click to expand...

Missing Icons and Taskbar:
http://kgiii.info/windows/XP/general/missing_desktop-icons_taskbar.html

--
Galen

My Geek Site: http://kgiii.info
Web Hosting: http://whathostingshould.be

"It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It
biases the judgment." - Sherlock Holmes
 
Galen:

Thanks. When I try to run 'explorer.exe' teh get the message that windows
cannot find 'explorer.exe'. Then I get to try to go to a restore point but
there are no restore points created.

Any other ideas.

Bob
 
If explorer.exe is not there then insert your Windows CD and,
using the Task Manager, run the System File Checker utility
with this command: sfc /scannow


Here are other things to check:

DESKTOP ICONS AND THE TASKBAR FAIL TO LOAD AT STARTUP

This problem is most likely fixed by using one of these 3 repairs:


(1) RESTORE A MISSING "USERINIT" REGISTRY VALUE

1. Copy below between the lines:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Userinit"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM32\\userinit.exe,"
----------copy inside only----------

2. Paste into Notepad, if your Windows is not on drive C:
replace C: with your Windows drive letter and Save-As
Userinit.reg (or any name + .reg).
3. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.
4. Restart.


(2) DELETE AN INCORRECT "EXPLORER.EXE" ENTRY IN THE REGISTRY

1. Open the Run box and enter: regedit
2. Go to this key:
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options]
3. If you see "explorer.exe" as a subkey below, delete it.
4. Restart.


(3) RESTORE A MISSING "EXPLORER.EXE" ENTRY IN THE REGISTRY

1. Copy below between the lines:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="explorer.exe"
----------copy inside only----------

2. Paste into Notepad and Save-As WinLogon.reg
(or any name + .reg).
3. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.
4. Restart.


ju.c
 
JU C.

Thanks. I have done the sfc/scannow and that did not work. The question is
how do I do the tasks you wrote if I cannot get access to notepad? The only
thing I can do on the desk to is Ctl + Alt + Del. I do not have access to
any of the programs.

Thanks

Bob

ju.c said:
If explorer.exe is not there then insert your Windows CD and,
using the Task Manager, run the System File Checker utility
with this command: sfc /scannow


Here are other things to check:

DESKTOP ICONS AND THE TASKBAR FAIL TO LOAD AT STARTUP

This problem is most likely fixed by using one of these 3 repairs:


(1) RESTORE A MISSING "USERINIT" REGISTRY VALUE

1. Copy below between the lines:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Userinit"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM32\\userinit.exe,"
----------copy inside only----------

2. Paste into Notepad, if your Windows is not on drive C:
replace C: with your Windows drive letter and Save-As
Userinit.reg (or any name + .reg).
3. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.
4. Restart.


(2) DELETE AN INCORRECT "EXPLORER.EXE" ENTRY IN THE REGISTRY

1. Open the Run box and enter: regedit
2. Go to this key:
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options]
3. If you see "explorer.exe" as a subkey below, delete it.
4. Restart.


(3) RESTORE A MISSING "EXPLORER.EXE" ENTRY IN THE REGISTRY

1. Copy below between the lines:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="explorer.exe"
----------copy inside only----------

2. Paste into Notepad and Save-As WinLogon.reg
(or any name + .reg).
3. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.
4. Restart.


ju.c


[email protected] said:
Galen:

Thanks. When I try to run 'explorer.exe' teh get the message that windows
cannot find 'explorer.exe'. Then I get to try to go to a restore point but
there are no restore points created.

Any other ideas.

Bob
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You ran "sfc" and there is still no explorer.exe file? That's weird. Boot to the Recovery Console with the Windows CD and copy
explorer.exe manually:

1) Insert the Windows CD and restart.
2) When setup begins, choose the "Repair or Recover"
option by pressing "R".
3) Once at the command prompt, enter:
copy D:\I386\EXPLORER.EX_ C:\WINDOWS\
(Change drive letters accordingly)
4) The file, "EXPLORER.EX_" is compressed and should be
automatically expanded on copy. If it doesn't just enter
this command: expand C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EX_ C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
5) To exit the Recovery Console, type: exit.


If the desktop still does not load:

From within the Task Manager, run a new task to open the Registry Editor:
regedit.exe
and manually enter the data, if it is missing or incorrect.

Good luck!


ju.c


[email protected] said:
JU C.

Thanks. I have done the sfc/scannow and that did not work. The question is
how do I do the tasks you wrote if I cannot get access to notepad? The only
thing I can do on the desk to is Ctl + Alt + Del. I do not have access to
any of the programs.

Thanks

Bob

ju.c said:
If explorer.exe is not there then insert your Windows CD and,
using the Task Manager, run the System File Checker utility
with this command: sfc /scannow


Here are other things to check:

DESKTOP ICONS AND THE TASKBAR FAIL TO LOAD AT STARTUP

This problem is most likely fixed by using one of these 3 repairs:


(1) RESTORE A MISSING "USERINIT" REGISTRY VALUE

1. Copy below between the lines:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Userinit"="C:\\WINDOWS\\SYSTEM32\\userinit.exe,"
----------copy inside only----------

2. Paste into Notepad, if your Windows is not on drive C:
replace C: with your Windows drive letter and Save-As
Userinit.reg (or any name + .reg).
3. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.
4. Restart.


(2) DELETE AN INCORRECT "EXPLORER.EXE" ENTRY IN THE REGISTRY

1. Open the Run box and enter: regedit
2. Go to this key:
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options]
3. If you see "explorer.exe" as a subkey below, delete it.
4. Restart.


(3) RESTORE A MISSING "EXPLORER.EXE" ENTRY IN THE REGISTRY

1. Copy below between the lines:

----------copy inside only----------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="explorer.exe"
----------copy inside only----------

2. Paste into Notepad and Save-As WinLogon.reg
(or any name + .reg).
3. Double-click or right-click and merge into the registry.
4. Restart.


ju.c


[email protected] said:
Galen:

Thanks. When I try to run 'explorer.exe' teh get the message that windows
cannot find 'explorer.exe'. Then I get to try to go to a restore point but
there are no restore points created.

Any other ideas.

Bob

:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message.

In (e-mail address removed) <[email protected]> typed:


I am using XP Prof SP3. All icons on my disktop disappeared and I do not
have any right mouch click funtionality while in the desktop. Also cannot
get the task bar to come up (it was set to auto hide). Finally the only
thing I can do is a Ctrl-Alt-Del and that will bring up the task manager.

The only think on the desk top is my wall paper without any icons.

Help?

Bob

Missing Icons and Taskbar:
http://kgiii.info/windows/XP/general/missing_desktop-icons_taskbar.html

--
Galen

My Geek Site: http://kgiii.info
Web Hosting: http://whathostingshould.be

"It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It
biases the judgment." - Sherlock Holmes
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I am using XP Prof SP3. All icons on my disktop disappeared and I do not
have any right mouch click funtionality while in the desktop. Also cannot
get the task bar to come up (it was set to auto hide). Finally the only
thing I can do is a Ctrl-Alt-Del and that will bring up the task manager.

The only think on the desk top is my wall paper without any icons.

Help?

Bob
Click to expand...

First remove the Service pack 3 then install the sp3.

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717/en-us

How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249/en-us
 
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