W2K Server and unable to see desktop

[Davidn]

All - an employee in their wisdom decided to carry out a
windows update on W2K server and has caused major
problems...not only did he carry out all the critical
updates but also installed the drivers and Windows 2000
updates as well. My question is I cannot see the desktop
just a blue windows background screen and the mouse
pointer (not the bsod) and nothing else..if you start in
safe mode or another mode you cannot see anything either
so I am powerless to carry out anything. Am I clutching at
straws here but has anybody got any ideas or maybe a re-
install is the better option?

thanks

 

[George Hester]

Can you ctrl-alt-del and get the Task Manager? And then File | New Task (Run...) | explorer | OK and get a desktop? Sounds like the shell is not starting.

 

[Jisha]

An in-place upgrade would allow you to roll updates, drivers, etc, back to
where you had them (and presumably wanted them).

However, I'm not sure if that will actually fix the empty desktop problem.

Chris