no desktop - no taskbar - no start menu

[mikeydread]

When I start my computer it seems very slow and finally I just get a
blue screen with the 'my documents' folder open. No taskbar or start
menu or icons. I cannot right click on desktop. I managed to do a full
virus scan and had a couple of Trojan horses and viruses which I
deleted but still have problem. In normal startup when I click on 'my
computer' nothing happens but can see some other folders and files, but
I can access everything in safe mode - but just have a black screen
with 'my documents' open. I can run task manager and there are only a
few processes running, including explorer.exe.
I have an external drive too, and on this has appeared a strange file
called msxml4-KB927978-enu/log which is a huge text file full of scaey
things, like :

MSI (c) (64:co) [21:24:44:515]: Grabbed execution mutex.

MSI (c) (64:co) [21:24:44:625]: Incrementing counter to disable
shutdown

and has referneces to user names, desktop folders, changing lots of
properties.

Not sure what to do. I can copy any important documents over to my
removeable drive and re-install windows xp perhaps? or is that too
drastic.

 

[Rookie]

Sounds like a virus got the best of your pc. Best thing to do is reformat
the hard drive and start over.
And, stay away from porn and warez! lol

 

[Wesley Vogel]

This behavior can occur if the Windows settings for a particular user
account are corrupted.

Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318027

msxml4-KB927978-enu.log can be deleted, it's the log from this Windows
Update.

kb927978 is this and it came out November 16, 2006...

MS06-071: Security update for Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927978

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[mikeydread]

Thanks for the reply. However I do not get a taskbar even in safe mode.
I do seem to have extra user accounts listed in documents and settings
which seem to have no files in them. I have also realised that I do
manage to be able to access 'my computer' in safe and normal mades, it
just takes a very long time to appear after clicking on it.
I can run some applications, but others bring up a black box briefly
(dos prompt?) and do not run. I have no internet access. I cannot
create new user acounts to test them as I have no control panel or
start menu etc.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I would suggest that you copy whatever files that you want to keep to CD or
whatever and reinstall Windows. It sounds like you have plenty of malware
and other problems.

On the other hand, if you want to learn a bunch of stuff by "doing", you
could try to repair things.

You should be able to access the Run command by hitting the Windows key + R.

You should also be able to get to the Run command through the Task Manager.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager. Then click File and then New
Task (Run...)

In the Run command, type: control and click OK to access the Control
Panel.

In the Run command, type: control userpasswords and click OK to access
User Accounts.

You can also access the internet by typing the address in the Run command.
i.e.
www.microsoft.com or whatever.

*Maybe* you could access the Start Manu by hitting the Windows key. Or
hitting Ctrl + Esc

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In