no desktop or icons

[Keith]

Hi,
my w2k machine (sp4) has lost its desktop and taskbar and
I do not appear to be able to get it back. I have
discovered that explorer is not running and having read
knowledge base #256194 and following those instructions
still does't help.
I think I spotted the start of the problem when many of
the icons changed to a 'default' icon, these were then
also present in windows explorer. In addition double
clicking on items in explorer would not open them. I have
tried to reboot to safe mode, still no desktop. I have
tried to use the last known good configuration and have
also tried to run the repair option from the installation
CD without success. In addition I have also restored the
whole of the winnt directory and sub directories from a
backup tape and again it does not work.
At the time I had been trying to run another program that
was not previously installed (from its directory, it was
not installed) and this may have caused some problems, but
not sure what.
I have also read here that IE may also be causing some
problems but in the current situation I do not know how to
go about uninstalling it and doing a re-install, if that
would help to sort the problem.
With the exception of the missing desktop the machine
appears to functioning normally, as far as I can tell.
Can anyone help with this?
Thanks,
Keith

 

[Rich]

Run task manager, and then click on File - New Task - and
run "explorer" -that'll bring back your desktop and
icons.

It's vague why it would hang, but that'll get it back for
you at least for your current session.