Icons Disappearing

C

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
 
G

Galen

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

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
 
C

cessna12

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
 
J

ju.c

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
 
C

cessna12

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


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
 
J

ju.c

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


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


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
 
W

windmap

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

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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