Stuck after login, no desktop icons or start menu - only the wallpaper

[RicheemxX]

One other thing to try (probably won't work, but it's worth a shot). Open up Task Manger (Ctrl-Alt-Del) and select File "New Task" In the next box, type this in: C:\Windows\explorer.exe and then press Enter. Does this show your Desktop?

Two other options:
1. try a repair install, you can search for a step by step on that it has been posted before
2. download knoppix or another live linux cd and back-up from there then format and fresh install

[Dj-Icer]

What anti virus are you using? Be sure to have the LATEST virus definition updates from the net. If you run AV program, without the latest updates, you won't be able to detect the newest virus.

I hope you haven't reformat your hard disk just yet because that would be the last thing you would do.

Is your hard disk at a healthy state? Run under MS-DOS and diagnose it.

OR

Go under MS-DOS, try type C:/dir , to see whether your important files are still available. If it is, how about you try have your files transfered on a different hard disk (from a friend perhaps) as you have set your HDD as a primary slave. After all files has been transfered, then you can format your HDD. You may loose any important programs and this is a little bit of sacrifice.

Believe me, I've been there.

[Namie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

One other thing to try (probably won't work, but it's worth a shot). Open up Task Manger (Ctrl-Alt-Del) and select File "New Task" In the next box, type this in: C:\Windows\explorer.exe and then press Enter. Does this show your Desktop?

Two other options:
1. try a repair install, you can search for a step by step on that it has been posted before
2. download knoppix or another live linux cd and back-up from there then format and fresh install

In SAFE MODE, when I accessed the task manager, it was already running explorer.exe but I still couldn't see anything. I tried killing the process and reopening explorer.exe but I still couldn't see anything.

Please read on to see my current situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dj-Icer

What anti virus are you using? Be sure to have the LATEST virus definition updates from the net. If you run AV program, without the latest updates, you won't be able to detect the newest virus.

I hope you haven't reformat your hard disk just yet because that would be the last thing you would do.

Is your hard disk at a healthy state? Run under MS-DOS and diagnose it.

OR

Go under MS-DOS, try type C:/dir , to see whether your important files are still available. If it is, how about you try have your files transfered on a different hard disk (from a friend perhaps) as you have set your HDD as a primary slave. After all files has been transfered, then you can format your HDD. You may loose any important programs and this is a little bit of sacrifice.

Believe me, I've been there.

[Namie]

I scanned the hard drive that wouldn't bootup to desktop, with an anti-virus, (by connecting it as Slave) but it didn't detect anything (I'm glad I could see my files though). When I reconnected it as Master, and got to the login screen, I noticed it had the old Windows 95/98 theme look and wouldn't even load the XP look now. It seems worse now that it won't even show the wallpaper but it just gets stuck at "logging in" dialog. Hopefully, I can backup my email settings/files and other items that I had on my desktop via connecting it as Slave again. It bugs me so much though. I wonder what caused this... My guess is that the hard drive is about to fail? It's pretty old as it's dated 2002.

[metylvamp]

did you install a p2p program before this problem started? If so, the problem may have started with the installation of the program. i had the same problem a while back. when installing, the program asked if i wanted it to start when windows logged on. unknowingly, i created a problem when i uninstalled the program, because it was set to open when windows opened. the internet explorer would start up and block the rest of the startup programs. to fix this problem, i connected the computer to another and moved all of my important files to the other computer then formatted the hard drive and reinstalled. hope this was some help.

[ainsworth_2]

Two days ago I woke up and turned on my computer, to find after I login it just goes to a background; no icons, start menu, etc. I can see all my files and programs by getting up new task in Task Manager.
I have tried all the things people have said but still no luck !
I would appreciate any help !
Thanks!

[uhhh............]

Call a professional like a computer handyman to do it for you the same thing happened to me so thats what i'm doing

[videoman1994]

Well I would suggest trying to back up your files and get Linux or anything close to it, I suggest Ubuntu its user friendly, the only other thing I can say is that you may have no choice but to reinstall the Operating system. Sorry I couldn't be any help but with your current situation its recommended.

[Passed]

Here's the test for you... Boot into Safe Mode and enter as admin (not your account) create another account WITHOUT it having admin rights... if it boots into desktop fine.. then you have a problem with your profile... it may in fact be accessing some application as admin which is causing your problem. Log back in as admin (safe mode) and kill the admin privs for your account... if you can, kill all apps that launch at startup. Once you do this boot back up in normal mode and login as yourself... if you get to your desktop pull all your files that you wish to keep back up your preferences (minus your startups)... Then login as admin.. kill that profile entirely. recreate it (use a slightly different username --- so any univeral apps won't see the account and reapply their settings)... and simply rebuild your account.

If none of this works.. Time to back your stuff up and format.. You have a serious system glitch.

[J1mmy]

Are you they haven't disappeared by some right-click action on the desktop. Right click on your desktop and play with the options there. I know one of them hides all icons.