No taskbar or desktop icons

[robert.lipman]

Hi,

When I boot up my daughter's laptop the taskbar is visible for a
fraction of a second and then it disappears. I also see no desktop
icons, but the background is visible. The problem seems to be with
explorer.exe I can run most anything, except IE, by starting a new
task from the task manager.

The problem might have been caused by a screwed up Windows update, or
shutting down or hibernating during a Windows update, or by some other
software update.

Here's is what I've tried to get this working again without any
success.

- run explorer.exe from the task manager
- tried a registry fix that seemed to work for other
- reregistered a bunch of system files that seemed to work for others
- booted to safe mode (no taskbar or icons either)
- ran several spyware and virus checkers
- system restore wouldn't work
- repaired Windows (i.e. reinstalled without reformatting)
- cursed and prayed

The computer is still quite usable by running everything from the task
manager, but it's sort of like running everything from a command line
in DOS.

Any other suggestions that don't involve reformatting and starting all
over.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

If you can, check this registry key:-
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon
Make sure userinit is pointing to c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe

Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318027

and/or

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 117 - Restore Taskbar and Start Menu

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

or Line #195 "Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar"
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


--

==================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
==================================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
Get Safe online: http://www.getsafeonline.org/
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping the
information current)


| Hi,
|
| When I boot up my daughter's laptop the taskbar is visible for a
| fraction of a second and then it disappears. I also see no desktop
| icons, but the background is visible. The problem seems to be with
| explorer.exe I can run most anything, except IE, by starting a new
| task from the task manager.
|
| The problem might have been caused by a screwed up Windows update, or
| shutting down or hibernating during a Windows update, or by some other
| software update.
|
| Here's is what I've tried to get this working again without any
| success.
|
| - run explorer.exe from the task manager
| - tried a registry fix that seemed to work for other
| - reregistered a bunch of system files that seemed to work for others
| - booted to safe mode (no taskbar or icons either)
| - ran several spyware and virus checkers
| - system restore wouldn't work
| - repaired Windows (i.e. reinstalled without reformatting)
| - cursed and prayed
|
| The computer is still quite usable by running everything from the task
| manager, but it's sort of like running everything from a command line
| in DOS.
|
| Any other suggestions that don't involve reformatting and starting all
| over.
|
| Thanks,
|
| Bob
|

 

[Guest]

thank you for the task bar repair link it worked like magic wow thanks again

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

Actually thanks should go to Kelly, it's her program.
Glad it worked out for you.
K

--

==================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
==================================
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
Get Safe online: http://www.getsafeonline.org/
(Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping the
information current)


| thank you for the task bar repair link it worked like magic wow thanks again
|
|
| "TaurArian [MS-MVP]" wrote:
|
| > If you can, check this registry key:-
| > HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon
| > Make sure userinit is pointing to c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe
| >
| > Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318027
| >
| > and/or
| >
| > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
| > Line 117 - Restore Taskbar and Start Menu
| >
| > Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
| > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
| >
| > or Line #195 "Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar"
| > http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
| >
| >
| > --
| >
| > ==================================
| > TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
| > ==================================
| > http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
| > Need more help? http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=ph;en-us;6527
| > Get Safe online: http://www.getsafeonline.org/
| > (Links to web pages and MSKB Articles are posted for the purposes of keeping the
| > information current)
| >
| >
| > | > | Hi,
| > |
| > | When I boot up my daughter's laptop the taskbar is visible for a
| > | fraction of a second and then it disappears. I also see no desktop
| > | icons, but the background is visible. The problem seems to be with
| > | explorer.exe I can run most anything, except IE, by starting a new
| > | task from the task manager.
| > |
| > | The problem might have been caused by a screwed up Windows update, or
| > | shutting down or hibernating during a Windows update, or by some other
| > | software update.
| > |
| > | Here's is what I've tried to get this working again without any
| > | success.
| > |
| > | - run explorer.exe from the task manager
| > | - tried a registry fix that seemed to work for other
| > | - reregistered a bunch of system files that seemed to work for others
| > | - booted to safe mode (no taskbar or icons either)
| > | - ran several spyware and virus checkers
| > | - system restore wouldn't work
| > | - repaired Windows (i.e. reinstalled without reformatting)
| > | - cursed and prayed
| > |
| > | The computer is still quite usable by running everything from the task
| > | manager, but it's sort of like running everything from a command line
| > | in DOS.
| > |
| > | Any other suggestions that don't involve reformatting and starting all
| > | over.
| > |
| > | Thanks,
| > |
| > | Bob
| > |
| >
| >
| >

 

[robert.lipman]

If you can, check this registry key:-
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Winlogon
Make sure userinit is pointing to c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe

Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318027

and/or

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 117 - Restore Taskbar and Start Menu

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

or Line #195 "Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar"
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, nothing worked. I still
only get the taskbar that flashes up for a second and no icons. Is
there a log file that I can see what's going on internally that would
cause this problem?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Guest]

Bob ... what worked for you ? This is the exact problem we are having with
our laptop.
Thanks Gail

 

[robert.lipman]

I eventually saved my files, wiped the disk, and reloaded WinXP.

Bob