No Desktop

[Loretta]

My Dell computer with windows xp-sp1 will not load a desktop. All I get is a
black screen and a mouse.
Windows XP repair panel did not work. Nor did a full repair. I get the same
screen in safe mode with the added safe mode words. I do believe this may be
a registry problem.
Any one, Help!
Loretta

 

[Al Dykes]

My Dell computer with windows xp-sp1 will not load a desktop. All I get is a
black screen and a mouse.
Windows XP repair panel did not work. Nor did a full repair. I get the same
screen in safe mode with the added safe mode words. I do believe this may be
a registry problem.
Any one, Help!
Loretta

Hit CRTL-ALT-DEl and with any luck you'll he a screen that gives you
Task Manager as a choice.

Pick it.

Click on new task

type "explorer.exe"

run it.

With luck you'll get your desktop back and it won't happen again.

 

[Loretta]

Control alt del does not work. Thank You,
Any other ideas?
L

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Do you have the Operating System XP CD from Dell? And can you provide details about your "full repair" ?

What do you mean by "repair panel"?

In safe mode, it is quite normal that words "safe mode" would show. and if you managed to actually get a taskbar, you could do some research or modifications. Also, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL would get you to Task Manager, from which (if needed) you can RUN some programs. Perhaps, like System Restore.

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Try pressing the space bar, if all you have is a black screen. See if it causes the screen to refresh.

What "do" you see on your screen? Give a try at pressing CTRL+ESC. or the Windows-key on your keyboard. Do you get the Start menu bar?

If you have some attached peripherals on this system, (like scanners, printers, attached USB devices) power them off and restart your system. Do you remember making any hardware changes or any program changes recently?

--
Maurice N
MS-MVP Windows (Shell / User), Aumha.net VSOP , DTS-L
-----

Control alt del does not work. Thank You,
Any other ideas?
L

 

[Loretta]

Maurice,

Yes I have the orginal Dell Operating System CD.
Sorry "repair console" There I tried just using chkdsk /p hoping.
then tried "Setup XP Now...." and the repair the windows installation.
Trying not to do a complete re-install because I do not want to have to
reload all the programs.
Loretta


Do you have the Operating System XP CD from Dell? And can you provide
details about your "full repair" ?

What do you mean by "repair panel"?

In safe mode, it is quite normal that words "safe mode" would show. and if
you managed to actually get a taskbar, you could do some research or
modifications. Also, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL would get you to Task Manager,
from which (if needed) you can RUN some programs. Perhaps, like System
Restore.

 

[Loretta]

Hi Maurice,
I have tried all that you have suggested. I do know that I deleted something
in the registry by accident when I was looking for spyware ( got interupted
and screwed up when I got back.) My first attemps at fixing it were met with
problems until I got control over the windows directory. Now it appears to
be doing the repair install but still comes up with the same problem.
Thanks for your help. I am trying one more time to get an effective repair.
Loretta


Try pressing the space bar, if all you have is a black screen. See if it
causes the screen to refresh.

What "do" you see on your screen? Give a try at pressing CTRL+ESC. or the
Windows-key on your keyboard. Do you get the Start menu bar?

If you have some attached peripherals on this system, (like scanners,
printers, attached USB devices) power them off and restart your system. Do
you remember making any hardware changes or any program changes recently?

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

If the registry was corrupted, then that would explain why Windows cannot get to a usable state.

I'd advise you see the result of your current "repair", then take time before proceeding further.

If you cannot login to XP, that prevents possibility of using System Restore.

Q: Do you have recent backups of this system?

Q: Were you able to get to Recovery Console by booting from the Dell XP CD?

 

[Loretta]

No backup of the system.
Yes I can get to the Recovery Console by booting from the Dell XP CD.
Loretta


If the registry was corrupted, then that would explain why Windows cannot
get to a usable state.

I'd advise you see the result of your current "repair", then take time
before proceeding further.

If you cannot login to XP, that prevents possibility of using System
Restore.

Q: Do you have recent backups of this system?

Q: Were you able to get to Recovery Console by booting from the Dell XP CD?

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Ok. That is very good to know.

Now, then, see following. See if you can get to "Safe mode with Command prompt" and do what article says.

HOW TO: Start the System Restore Tool from a Command Prompt ( 304449)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

 

[Loretta]

Hi Maurice,
No command prompt safe mode. I am stoping for now. Have to go to my
daughters house for Mothers Day.
Loretta
Ok. That is very good to know.

Now, then, see following. See if you can get to "Safe mode with Command
prompt" and do what article says.

HOW TO: Start the System Restore Tool from a Command Prompt ( 304449)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

At this point, I'd suggest you do a repair-install. Following is the Repair Install scenario.

The object of this exercise is to do an in-place upgrade or an in-place installation for purposes of "repair".
It needs to go to the same partition as before , and the same directory as before.

Usually for example XP is on C drive and is on folder/directory \Windows or \WINNT.

Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. You do that from the pc BIOS setup screen. You specify CDROM as the first drive to boot from.

Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM drive, and then restart your pc.

When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on your screen, press a key to boot pc from the XP CD.

When you see the following message displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER:
To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

At this point an option to press R to enter the Recovery Console is displayed. Do NOT select this option.

On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 function key to agree to it.

Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP (in your case, the one you wish to repair) is selected in the box, and then press the R key to repair XP.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

 

[Loretta]

Hi Maurice,
I have tried a repair install twice now. I also have to make a correction. I
do not get a Welcome screen so I am not even getting to the point of worring
about the desktop. I am trying today some of the fixes that I found on the
Microsoft web site last night. If these do not work I will repost in this
group unless you recomend sending a whole new post.
Loretta


At this point, I'd suggest you do a repair-install. Following is the Repair
Install scenario.

The object of this exercise is to do an in-place upgrade or an in-place
installation for purposes of "repair".
It needs to go to the same partition as before , and the same directory as
before.

Usually for example XP is on C drive and is on folder/directory \Windows
or \WINNT.

Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. You do that from the
pc BIOS setup screen. You specify CDROM as the first drive to boot from.

Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM drive, and then restart your pc.

When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message is displayed on your
screen, press a key to boot pc from the XP CD.

When you see the following message displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen,
press ENTER:
To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

At this point an option to press R to enter the Recovery Console is
displayed. Do NOT select this option.

On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 function key to agree
to it.

Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP (in your case, the
one you wish to repair) is selected in the box, and then press the R key to
repair XP.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Hi Loretta,

It's up to you whether to add a new post. It's much preferred you stick
with THIS thread, since we can see your older posts.

Go very slow. I'd like to find out (without any inference or injury) your
experience level with Windows diagnosis & repair.

If you do have experience, See this MS Article ID 307545
How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from
Starting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

You have to go slow, and careful, and follow each step exactly as outlined.
That would get your registry to a working state. But it will not be from a
recent date.

Post back with ANY questions at all.

 

[Iceman]

Control alt del does not work. Thank You,
Any other ideas?

Does Task Manager not open at all or is it merely slow? If the former, try
this:

Taskmgr.exe should be listed in the %SystemRoot%\system32 directory. If you
cannot find the file, you can extract it from the Windows XP CD. To do so,
you can perform the following steps:

a. Insert your Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM.
b. Click Start, Run, type cmd and press Enter.
c. At the Command Prompt mode, type the following command:

For example, if the drive letter of your CD-ROM is F, you can type the
following commands:

F:
cd \i386
expand taskmgr.ex_ %SystemRoot%\SYSTEM32\taskmgr.exe

 

[Loretta]

Hi Maurice,
To continue the saga.
My experience level is pretty good. I am not certified and have more to
learn. I am reading constantly.
My normal proceedure is to export the registry before doing anything. As I
explained I was interupted by customers who were talking to me(nice pests,
old guys, even older than me(61).) Anyhow I screwed up.
Yesterday I did a full reinstall using the Dell OS CD putting it in a
different directory. The computer boots now and I have all the documents. I
tried to work in the Old Windows directory but it has again locked my out.
It says it is shared by denies me access to all folders and files with in. I
would like to fix this. I found BBstore folder, WT folder(Wild Tangent), and
MyWebSearch.
I cannot delete these folders and the denied access is probably the reason
the Windows Repair Install is not working.
By the way, thanks for the support in the other post.
Loretta

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Loretta,

Kudos for having done a parallel install of XP to recover your files !

Do tell us if your XP was at service pack 2 level, and if your Dell CD
already has XP service pack 2.



It seems to me your old system was likely infested with malware (?)

It would be worthwhile for you to check it out.

You are highly urged to follow the steps at

"The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol"

<http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm>



http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm



http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Security



http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

[Loretta]

The Dell CD is SP1

Loretta,

Kudos for having done a parallel install of XP to recover your files !

Do tell us if your XP was at service pack 2 level, and if your Dell CD
already has XP service pack 2.



It seems to me your old system was likely infested with malware (?)

It would be worthwhile for you to check it out.

You are highly urged to follow the steps at

"The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol"

<http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm>



http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm



http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Security



http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

--

Maurice N

MS-MVP Windows

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Loretta,

Save this note, in case a repair install is called for --- later on.

You can "merge" your original XP with the latest service pack (this case at
this stardate, it is SP 2) into a *slipstream* CD.

Here is one good reference
Windows 2000/XP SP Slipstreaming by Daniel Petri
http://www.petri.co.il/windows_2000_xp_sp_slipstreaming.htm


The examples are for Win2000, as well as Win XP.


The slipstream CD can be used to do a repair-install (if ever needed) or
for (worst case) a reload, and for any use where your XP operating system CD
would be called for.

--
Maurice N
MS-MVP Windows
--

The Dell CD is SP1

 

[Guest]

Maurice,
I have the same problem, however, when I try to do a repair it asks for an
administrator password. This is my personal laptop and I don't have one. If I
press enter to go by it I just get a c:\ windows.0 prompt. What should I do?
This is on a Gateway laptop running XP Home.

I have already tried a restore and re-install and neither of those regained
me my desktop or task bar. I have successfully run Norton Antivirus and a
myriad of spyware checks. Nothing is discovered.

Any guidance would be helpful
Thanks