No icons, No task bar, Nothing but a mouse pointer on a black desk

G

Guest

When I boot the computer, it brings me to user profile page that displays
correctly. When I chose a profile loads and the screen is blank other than
the desktop wallpaper. No Task bar, start button, icons, nothing but
wallpaper. The only way to access the system is through control-alt-delete
and choose "new task". From new task I can access all programs, even can
choose desktop and it shows the desktop icons that you can open.

Does anyone have a cure??????????????????

I appreciate any help or understanding of how to cure this.

Thank you
 
I

Iceman

When I boot the computer, it brings me to user profile page that displays
correctly. When I chose a profile loads and the screen is blank other than
the desktop wallpaper. No Task bar, start button, icons, nothing but
wallpaper. The only way to access the system is through control-alt-delete
and choose "new task". From new task I can access all programs, even can
choose desktop and it shows the desktop icons that you can open.

Does anyone have a cure??????????????????

I appreciate any help or understanding of how to cure this.

Thank you
Click to expand...

See if these pages are of help.

"Computer Stops Responding with a Black Screen When You Start Windows"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314503

"Black Screen on Boot"
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q155/0/53.asp

"Blank Screen or Operating System Cannot Load Profile at Logon"
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q162/0/31.asp

"Black Startup Screen Is Briefly Displayed, Computer Restarts Repeatedly"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314466
 
I

Iceman

Hi Iceman

I appreciate the advice but did not help.
Click to expand...

Since you spoke of a "black screen" in the subject line, I may have gotten
your problem wrong. Sorry.

Have you tried to right-click the desktop, select "Arrange icons" and see
if "Show Desktop icons" is checked?
 
G

Guest

There is no functionality on the desktop. Right clicking on the desktop does
nothing. The only way to do anything is to press control-Alt-delete and go
through windows task manager. I can get to desktop icons from the task
manager and choosing new task and then browse then desktop. Once I choose
desktop I can see all the icons that are normally there and I can use them to
open the programs associated with them. The task bar (or anything) never
appears, even in safe mode

The desktop has this fake layer covering up what is really there??

Look forward to your response.

Thanks
 
I

Iceman

There is no functionality on the desktop. Right clicking on the desktop does
nothing. The only way to do anything is to press control-Alt-delete and go
through windows task manager. I can get to desktop icons from the task
manager and choosing new task and then browse then desktop. Once I choose
desktop I can see all the icons that are normally there and I can use them to
open the programs associated with them. The task bar (or anything) never
appears, even in safe mode

The desktop has this fake layer covering up what is really there??

Look forward to your response.
Click to expand...

Is this a persistent problem with all your user accounts or just a single
one? In the latter case I would suspect that that account is corrupt.

Try backing up your files for the account (if necessary), then log on as
Administrator and create a new account. Then reboot and try out the new
account.

You could also be having malware problems. Run some (or even all) of these
tools:

Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoft.de
Spybot S&D http://security.kolla.de
AVG free antivirus http://www.grisoft.com
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/newsinfo/collateral.aspx?CID=40387
Troubleshooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use.

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip
is the preferred tool to use. It will help you to both identify and remove
any hijackware/spyware. Post your log to:

http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7

HTH :)
 
G

Guest

Hi Glee

I looked in the Registry locations below and did not find the entries
(explorer.exe and iexplorer.exe) that you mentioned.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
Execution
Options\explorer.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
Execution
Options\iexplorer.exe


I am running XP not NT does that make a difference?

The symptoms all sound like the ones I have. I was excited to see that 3
other people found the entries and deleted them and their systems were
repaired.

Looks like I have the super problem :((

I am grateful for any other suggestions that you may have!! Can I provide
you any additional information that may help you help me?

Thanks
DG
 
G

glee

At the blank desktop, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up Task Manager.
Under Processes, is explorer.exe listed?

If not, click File>Run, type explorer.exe and click OK.

If it is running, kill it and then use File>Run to start explorer.exe.

Does that allow the taskbar, Start button, and menu to load?
 
G

Guest

Hi Glee

I appreciate you helping me!!!

Explorer.exe was not running under processing in task manager. I then did
what you suggested, "click File>Run, type explorer.exe and click OK". For a
split second something appeared, to quick to see, but it returned to the
blank desktop.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks again for your help.

DG
 
G

glee

If you have access to another computer running the same version of XP as yours (you
didn't mention whether you have Home or Pro), copy Explorer.exe from the Windows
folder on that computer to a USB flash drive, bring it to your computer, start in
Safe Mode Command Prompt and copy the file from the USB flash drive to your Windows
folder. Then restart in normal mode.

If that does not help, try running sfc /scannow as described here:
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
 
G

Guest

Hi Glee

I am using XP home. In safe mode I copied explorer.exe to the infected
computer. It asked me if I wanted to replace existing file, I said yes. This
told me that the file was already there but could not be accessed for what
ever reason.

I then attempted to run sfc /scannow per the article. When I ran sfc thee
was a split second when I could see the sfc screen but then it was gone. It
is like when I try to run explorer.exe, it is there for a second and then
gone. explorer.exe still does not show up in task manager processes.

Again I appreciate your help but both suggestions did not work.
Any other suggestion besides reformatting the hard drive:))?

Thanks
DG
 
G

Guest

I have a very similar problem as DG. I get the wallpaper, but no icons.
When I do Control/alt/delete and pick new task and select explorer I get the
desktop icons back and the taskbar. A functionality appears to be there.
However, I can see the icons/taskbar for 11 to 12 seconds and then they are
gone for about 3 seconds.

I tried the 'regedit' suggestion, didn't work. I have no other pc to copy
explorer file from. Can you are someone make another suggestion? Any help
will be appreciated and heeded.

Larry Jay
 
G

Guest

Hi Glee

Sorry I was not clear. YES, I copied explorer.exe in Safe mode with command
prompt. See last message for additional info.

What would you suggest for a next step?

Thanks
 
G

glee

What method did you use to attempt to copy the file....what commands did you use?

If you try to start in Safe Mode (not "with command prompt"), does explorer dtill
not load....IOW do you still see only the blank desktop?
 
B

barry

Getting similar problem here.

XP HOME SP2

Booting up - selecting profile, no icons or taskbar.

If I run explorer.exe via Taskmanager it runs then quits then runs
then quits.

Tried RENAME of file explorer.exe in c:/windows (changed it to
explorer2.exe) and suddenly a "new" file appears called explorer.exe.

It would appear that there is a process happening somwhere else that
re-creates itself when explorer.exe is run / name changed etc etc.

Any ideas?
 
G

glee

What does "could not be accessed for whatever reason" mean? What was the actual
message?

If you started in Safe Mode With Command Prompt, you should be able to use the Copy
command to copy explorer.exe from the CD or whatever your location, to the \Windows
folder, and type Y to confirm overwrite.

If you still have problems, try using Replacer:
http://www3.telus.net/_/replacer/
 

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