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

Namie · July 6th, 2007, 04:48 PM

I'm not sure if it had anything to do with a recent application I installed or not, but after I rebooted, I can no longer get to my desktop (Windows XP).

I'm using the Microsoft Fingerprint to logon (USB) and the scanner usually is supposed to light up but now, it doesn't even turn on. Therefore, I just Ctrl + Alt + Del to go through the regular XP logon so I can type in my username and password. However, the main problem is, once I enter that and hit enter, I see my desktop wallpaper but that's it! Nothing else. After that it just sits there and nothing. No desktop icons or start menu and I can't even access the task manager.

I was able to boot fine (see my desktop and files) in SAFE MODE, and I uninstalled the program I had recently installed, but I still can't login normally. I ran my anti-virus in SAFE MODE too but it didn't detect anything.

Any suggestions?

akaBruno · July 6th, 2007, 05:28 PM

Try a system restore and start over.

Namie · July 6th, 2007, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akaBruno

Try a system restore and start over.

I wish I could but I disabled system restore a loong time ago. And I always disliked System restore because it still messes other things.

Blitzkreig75 · July 6th, 2007, 07:10 PM

Have you a mouse pointer on this wallpaper-only desktop?

washe · July 6th, 2007, 08:38 PM

Well something similar happened to me.. I got only a wallpaper no taskbar no icons in the desktop.

Try to access the system in safe mode, then move all icons to a folder..

Shutdown the system and start it in normal mode..

That solved my issues for a reason Coreldraw was creating that issue to me with their thumbnail preview in the doc.

Namie · July 6th, 2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzkreig75

Have you a mouse pointer on this wallpaper-only desktop?

Do you mean do I see my mouse pointer when I only see my wallpaper? If so, yes. And the thing is, the mouse pointer never turns into the hour glass loading. I see my computer busy light flash, and I've waited hours, but it will never load anything except my wallpaper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by washe

Well something similar happened to me.. I got only a wallpaper no taskbar no icons in the desktop.

Try to access the system in safe mode, then move all icons to a folder..

Shutdown the system and start it in normal mode..

That solved my issues for a reason Coreldraw was creating that issue to me with their thumbnail preview in the doc.

extitude · July 6th, 2007, 10:59 PM

I would borrow another hard drive if you do not have one ,and try to recover your files first.Then I would try to boot in safe mode then try to boot from cd.I hope you have run a 'chkdsk" from your command prompt .
Good luck and keep us posted please.

Blitzkreig75 · July 7th, 2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Namie

Do you mean do I see my mouse pointer when I only see my wallpaper? If so, yes. And the thing is, the mouse pointer never turns into the hour glass loading. I see my computer busy light flash, and I've waited hours, but it will never load anything except my wallpaper..

Ok, let's hope you can get the drop-down menu when right-clicking on the wallpaper. Here's some suggestions you may or may not have already tried using the sub menu from the right-click:

Check to make sure the "Show icons on desktop" is checked in the sub menu inder "Arrange icons by..". Try to create "New"-"Shortcut"s to "My Computer". Try to right-click and add/change some icons to see if that can bring one up. Try to "refresh" the desktop. Try running desktop clean-up.

Perhaps do the above in Safe Mode, too.

That'd be the best ways I know of to get to the HDD and try to work from there.

Namie · July 7th, 2007, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extitude

I would borrow another hard drive if you do not have one ,and try to recover your files first.Then I would try to boot in safe mode then try to boot from cd.I hope you have run a 'chkdsk" from your command prompt .
Good luck and keep us posted please.

I tried chkdsk but still no luck. (it didn't seem to find any errors either)

Backing up files takes forever in SAFE MODE, to navigate at least, because it doesn't install the graphic drivers so it's really sluggish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzkreig75

Ok, let's hope you can get the drop-down menu when right-clicking on the wallpaper. Here's some suggestions you may or may not have already tried using the sub menu from the right-click:

Check to make sure the "Show icons on desktop" is checked in the sub menu inder "Arrange icons by..". Try to create "New"-"Shortcut"s to "My Computer". Try to right-click and add/change some icons to see if that can bring one up. Try to "refresh" the desktop. Try running desktop clean-up.

Perhaps do the above in Safe Mode, too.

That'd be the best ways I know of to get to the HDD and try to work from there.

Namie · July 7th, 2007, 03:23 AM

I can't believe it. I'm in a deeper hole now: it won't show the desktop in SAFE MODE either now. (but I can ctrl+alt+del and access the Task Manager but that's it)

I tried to install F-Secure Internet Secruity (anti-virus) Trial version in SAFE MODE, and when I rebooted and tried to enter SAFE MODE, the desktop won't load in SAFE MODE now.

There must be some kind of bug in the installation and bootup. What should I do? This is so depressing...