missing icons, task bar, start menu etc

[mfacer]

I'm trying to fix my neighbour's laptop (WIndows XP Home)

he left the laptop on for a few hours and when he returned it was like
this...

- the welcome screen now is replaced by the windows "log on" prompt
- the task bar is now grey (nothing on it)
- when you open my computer, there are no titles like "File,
Edit...etc" yet when you click where they should be, the menu is there!
- all the icons on the desktop have a pixlled white edge (like the
shadow alpha isnt working)
- when you click on properties (desktop right click) and select
"Desktop" you get an error saying

"Rundll32.exe unable to locate component - this application failed to
start because gdiplus.dll was not found"

- I cannot access task manager
- when you load mycomputer the icons are not there, but the description
is there. eg the words "my computer" but they are all squashed up

it's like something isnt loading that controls the display stuff!!
I have tried allsorts... system restore a few times, booting in safe
mode and running various scripts from kellys-korner and still it doesnt
work. I've also logged in as other users and that has the same problem.

I'm lost. Any ideas?!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

#1 - Enable the Welcome Screen via User Accounts applet. For more
information, see Help.
#2 - Start the "Themes" service (Click Start, Run and type services.msc),
and set it to Automatic
#3 - Perhaps uploading a screenshot may give me more idea
#4 - See this note from Keith Miller.

from Keith Miller:

Four things are required for transparent icon backgrounds:

1) 'System Properties' -> 'Advanced' tab -> Performance 'Settings' ->
'Visual Effects' tab:
"use drop shadows for icon labels..." must be checked

2) Right-click on Desktop -> 'Arrange Icons by' -> "Lock Web items..." must
be CLEARED

3) If you have any web content on your desktop, transparency won't work.

To check for web content: Display Properties > Desktop tab > Customize
Desktop button > Web tab >
make sure all checkboxes are clear.

4) Wallpaper must be an image file, not html.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I'm trying to fix my neighbour's laptop (WIndows XP Home)

he left the laptop on for a few hours and when he returned it was like
this...

- the welcome screen now is replaced by the windows "log on" prompt
- the task bar is now grey (nothing on it)
- when you open my computer, there are no titles like "File,
Edit...etc" yet when you click where they should be, the menu is there!
- all the icons on the desktop have a pixlled white edge (like the
shadow alpha isnt working)
- when you click on properties (desktop right click) and select
"Desktop" you get an error saying

"Rundll32.exe unable to locate component - this application failed to
start because gdiplus.dll was not found"

- I cannot access task manager
- when you load mycomputer the icons are not there, but the description
is there. eg the words "my computer" but they are all squashed up

it's like something isnt loading that controls the display stuff!!
I have tried allsorts... system restore a few times, booting in safe
mode and running various scripts from kellys-korner and still it doesnt
work. I've also logged in as other users and that has the same problem.

I'm lost. Any ideas?!

 

[mfacer]

Hi Ramesh,

Thanks for posting. I've uploaded a screen shot of the desktop.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/mfacer/desktop.jpg

the welcome screen is enabled, as it the visual effects to show
shadows. It's weird that even when I tried to open MS Paint it came up
with an error message saying the "application configuration is
incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem".

any thoughts?!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi,

Looks like a graphics driver issue to me, as the screen colors are faded out
at certain locations. I'd try reinstalling the video driver first.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Ramesh,

Thanks for posting. I've uploaded a screen shot of the desktop.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/mfacer/desktop.jpg

the welcome screen is enabled, as it the visual effects to show
shadows. It's weird that even when I tried to open MS Paint it came up
with an error message saying the "application configuration is
incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem".

any thoughts?!

 

[mfacer]

that's my fault. The only way I could get a screen shot was to save the
image in ms works then convert it to ms word and paste to photoshop!!

The graphics look find on the actual desktop. The photo in the
background is full colour.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

that's my fault. The only way I could get

Oh Ok. I see that the notification area is displayed correctly in blue
color.

Another thing you can try is to reset to Windows XP Theme, assuming that
you're currently using a modified theme - Windows XP theme (modified).

Click Start, Run and type desk.cpl
Select "Windows XP" from the drop-down.
Click OK.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


that's my fault. The only way I could get a screen shot was to save the
image in ms works then convert it to ms word and paste to photoshop!!

The graphics look find on the actual desktop. The photo in the
background is full colour.

 

[mfacer]

how can I access "run" without going through the start menu? If you
look at the image, there is nothing there to click on!!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Desk.cpl is located at c:\windows\system32\
You could use Explorer to locate and run this file.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


how can I access "run" without going through the start menu? If you
look at the image, there is nothing there to click on!!

 

[mfacer]

nope that didnt do anything.

I think he'll just have to take it back to the shop and get it fixed.

I'm fairly sure its a problem with the windows configuration files or
something. It just seems weird that things like the "file, edit etc"
options are not there either on windows.

Could do with windows being reinstalled i think.

Thanks for your help anyway ramesh

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Thanks for your help anyway ramesh

No problem, mfacer. How about the other problems you're posted.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


nope that didnt do anything.

I think he'll just have to take it back to the shop and get it fixed.

I'm fairly sure its a problem with the windows configuration files or
something. It just seems weird that things like the "file, edit etc"
options are not there either on windows.

Could do with windows being reinstalled i think.

Thanks for your help anyway ramesh

 

[mfacer]

I think they're all related. The PC was fine then ALL of the problems
happened!
It was working perfectly a few days ago (using welcome screen, icons
ok, start menu there etc) then something happened and it looked like it
does now!