Blank Desktop, no start menu, no right click-HELP!!!

amy.vmt · #1 04-05-2008, 12:32 PM

I have lost my desktop screen... I have no right click, no start menu, no icons. I can open task manager and all my files, programs are there ok. I have checked for spyware, adware, virus and its said there was a trojan horse on it which was deleted. Task manager also says there is no explorer.exe which is slightly worrying. I have tried safe mode- still the same and system restore ( which said it was enabled.... i hadn't enabled it!). Have been googleing it for days now and have tried all sorts of different options bar using the windows xp prof disk (which i will have to get from work) and running a repair. This seems to be fairly common but no one on these forums seem to have been able to fix it.... any ideas anyone? Please dont get too techy with the language.... I am still learning!

Kevin_gibson · #2 04-06-2008, 12:00 PM

If you open up task manager - Click on "file" and "New Task" and then type in explorer.exe - Press enter.

What happens?

amy.vmt · #3 04-09-2008, 01:25 PM

When i type in explorer.exe in new file i get the following message...

Windows cannot find explorer.exe.Make sure you typed it correctly...etc.etc.

ARGH! Its driving me potty! xx

Any more suggestions?!

Kevin_gibson · #4 04-11-2008, 03:19 PM

If you don't want to format your machine, you could try running sfc /scannow

Inquisitor · #5 04-12-2008, 02:40 AM

If your computer was on a network, I would suggest getting all your files off the hard drive before you try anything drastic.

Another safer option would be to get hold of a boot disc. You can do a virus scan from outside of Windows. Do a search for Hiren's boot disc. That's pretty good.

If you absolutely have to keep the data on the hard drive and cannot access it, then you could try the following. But I warn you, it's not for the faint hearted.

Get a clone disc program such as Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost. Clone your hard drive. Save the image to a DVD Disc (don't worry, all this can be done from outside of Windows).

Reinstall Windows. What the hell, why not install Windows Vista with SP1? (If your system can handle it). Once everything is working, make sure you have a separate partition on your hard drive to restore the clone image to. If you don't have enough space, buy another hard drive (internal or external, it doesn't really matter so long as you have USB 2).

After you restore the image, you can access all your files.

Note: if you are forced to buy a new hard drive due to lack of space, then you could install Windows on there and then connect your old hard drive and access files as normal.

The cheapest and easiest option would be to take out your hard drive, hook it up to another computer (your own or a friend's) and backup the files from there. Then simpy reinstall Windows.

But seriously, cloning your hard drive and keeping a back up copy is always a sensible thing to do.

vev_pro · #6 04-12-2008, 08:56 AM

hey dont format.uninstall the last prog u hav installed.this might be the prob.i've solved it many times.task mgr->newtask->type appwiz.cpl & remove the last installed prog.then reboot.u will get the task bar

Kevin_gibson · #7 04-12-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vev_pro

hey dont format.uninstall the last prog u hav installed.this might be the prob.i've solved it many times.task mgr->newtask->type appwiz.cpl & remove the last installed prog.then reboot.u will get the task bar

If you've tried both safe mode and system restore, then you're looking at a Software issue.

You might need to run a recovery on your machine, but you could try and run a repair on it before doing a full recovery.

And if you uninstall your last program, that isn't necessarily going to help get your task bar back, as he mentioned he had a virus on the machine. This could have eaten up some of his settings, so he's tried a restore but this failed and it's the same in safe mode. So uninstalling it may work, but I wouldn't count on it.

ericilsamper · #8 04-16-2008, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by bigboi8989
I had the exact problem too lastnite (blank desktop and only the documents folder opened everything else works fine),...i only fixed it now....ok this should work i'm using windows vista but it should work for xp

You can goto Ctrl+alt+Del, open task manager and run explorer.exe to Normally start VISTA.

it works now but u need to do the following steps for it to remain like this.

Step 1: Start > Run , type in 'regedit' (without the quotes of course) in the search box .

Step 2: Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon.

Step 3: In Winlogon, on the right side, there should be a value called "Shell".
Double click this value. Make sure only "Explorer.exe" is the value of Shell, if anything else is there, simply delete it and leave 'Explorer.exe'. Restart Windows.

Your pc should be back to normally now...if you have any questions based on this just let me know.