Blank desktop / NO desktop after log-on!!!

[vibranttrolley]

Originally Posted by AsturizGomez

I'm using Windows XP. To make a long story short, when I opened my desktop yesterday, no desktop icon appeared and there was also no START bar/menu.

I got this problem about 8 hours ago, and have just managed to fix it after hours of forum searching, various scans and system tweaks.

I found the cause of my problems was a 'Vundo' trojan.

Here's the fix that worked for me:-

• Download SUPERAntiSpyware (it's free).
• Run a full scan.
• Fix whatever you feel needs fixing.

SUPERAntiSpyware picked up 18 instances of the Vundo virus on my PC, and after clearing these, my PC is back to normal.

I'd never heard of SUPERAntiSpyware before today, but after reading many forums and other user's comments, it's now my preferred freebie scanner (previously used Lavasoft Ad-Aware free version).

If you do have the Vundo trojan, another fix that I found (but didn't try) is a piece of software specifically programmed for Vundo deletion:-
"Vundofix by Atribune".

Hope this helps someone!

[divv]

Originally Posted by AsturizGomez

I'm using Windows XP. To make a long story short, when I opened my desktop yesterday, no desktop icon appeared and there was also no START bar/menu. In other words, what I got was a plain blank black screen with only the mouse pointer (which, by the way, responds as I move the mouse ).


Here are some more details:
- though the mouse responds with movement, I CANNOT get the options "Active Desktop, Arrange Icons, Refresh, Properties, etc" that usually appear when you do a right-click on the desktop. THis just doesnt happen.
- I could, however, launch Task Manager when doing a Ctrl+Alt+Del. From here, I could launch applications when clicking the "New Task" button. I've tried opening the usual applications that I use like MS Office, etc. and goodthing I was able to open them. So im not sure what the problem is since I can open applications via the long route
- I've tried rebooting and starting in "Safe Mode" but same problem. NO icons, no Start bar, etc.
- Safe mode runs it fine, though.

Any advice or solutions will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

hey it may be caused due to a adware named vundoo...download superantispyware,.,,,it helped me solve it...

[do0odz]

I'm having the same problem since yesterday .. no desktop icons no taskbar nothing just the wallpaper..
and I can't get access to the task manager when I press ctrl+alt+delete
I get the error "task manager was disabled by the administrator".

now how can I fix that :S ?

[ratboy87]

I have the same issue! But i cant access task manager i've tried ctrl+alt+del but nothing happens.
I've also tried going on safe mode and i still get a black screen! can anyone help?
thanks

[toosb]

Originally Posted by vibranttrolley

I got this problem about 8 hours ago, and have just managed to fix it after hours of forum searching, various scans and system tweaks.

I found the cause of my problems was a 'Vundo' trojan.

Here's the fix that worked for me:-

• Download SUPERAntiSpyware (it's free).
• Run a full scan.
• Fix whatever you feel needs fixing.

SUPERAntiSpyware picked up 18 instances of the Vundo virus on my PC, and after clearing these, my PC is back to normal.

I'd never heard of SUPERAntiSpyware before today, but after reading many forums and other user's comments, it's now my preferred freebie scanner (previously used Lavasoft Ad-Aware free version).

If you do have the Vundo trojan, another fix that I found (but didn't try) is a piece of software specifically programmed for Vundo deletion:-
"Vundofix by Atribune".

Hope this helps someone!

Thanks for posting that. It sorted my problem out. Fingers crossed anyway.

[Lauraanne]

I had the same problem and found this on a forum and after trying everything, it worked for me. Hope it helps!

I read many posts related to the topic and eventually did the following:

1. booted up to windows
2. ctrl+alt+del to get windows task manager
3. File, new task, typed regedit, clicked ok
4. go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current
Version\Image File Execution Options\
5. In there I had an explorer.exe folder that I deleted (you may have an
entry in the root of the Image File folder as well.. delete them also).
6. Rebooted and everything was back to normal.
7. Breathed a sigh of relief.

You can back up the explorer.exe folder (and files in the Image File
Execution Options root if applicable) by exporting them before the deletion
process.

Hopefully this thread will save many people lots of time in the future.

[Ra Goreg Atun]

My desktop has a blue screen with all of the main icons but it does not show my background image that i saved on the computer. The background image only shows after I shutdown the computer and it has been like this for quite awhile now. Also, when I go into the desktop menu screen all of the desktop background icons are frozen, in other words i cannot click on the word 'browse'. Does anyone have any information on how i can fix this problem?

[oldskool]

I do PC repair as a hobby and never ran into the no desktop thing in my 20+ years of working with PCs. Found this forum after several hours of searching and trying several suggestions. vibranttrolley you are a god (small g). Like you I never heard of SUPERAntiSpyware but it did the trick.

Thanks!

[giantisland]

I just fixed this issue, so if this helps anyone, here is the fix:

In my case, this was definately a VIRUS! In most cases, based on what I had and what I have seen on Google search, it is due to a bug. In my case it was due to the Virtumonde virus (one of the versions). The one thats out in 2009 spreads itself into many variants on your PC really fast. Even a popular anti virtumonde tool didnt find or fix it in my case. To fix it, you need to install one or more free antivirus programs. I use AVG, SpywareDoctor, and an old copy of Pest Patrol. You can download these from downloads.com for free. AVAST also works good.

The reason you want several is each found different instances of the virus on my PC. What you do is if all you can see is your desktop, or a flashing desktop that is cycling and shows no icons (I saw both), first press ctrl+alt+delete and that will open the Task Manager. In there, click Applications tab, then at the bottom right click the "New Task" button. In the popup type "explorer". That will open up a new instance of Windows explorer, and you may see you desktop icons briefly and the tool bars and Start. It then may disappear again. You do this so you can see whats going on and open up programs if you need to. In my case the virus had messed with explroer which was logging out then attempting to log in again and restart. At this point I would go back to the Task Manager screen, click "Shutdown" at teh top menu and restart.

When your computer reboots, start tapping the "F8" key. That will take you to Safe Mode. Follow the black screen instructions and in XP/Vista, in safe mode you can remove the virus. Once in Safe Mode, start opening up one of your anti-virus programs and have it run full scans and see if it finds the bug. Most will, and you can remove the virus. Shut each down and start another. You want to get all of them. In my case I say 48 instances. If you dont see your desktop in safe mode, BT, as I didnt, do the same as described above to open Task Manager and open explorer to get to your programs. After you have cleaned off the bugs, I would now do a check disk, by right clicking the you C drive (local disk) icon in your computer root folder, choosing properties, then Tools tab, then click Check Now button. You can click to set a checkdisk on reboot. This will fix broken clusters, etc. Now reboot. That should fix it.

If you still see the blank or fivering desktop, the virus has replicated itself again. You might try AVASt as it sits in the memory kernal before startup and will allow you to stip it out that way. I also recommend a cool registry cleaner that will take away any last issues. Its here:
http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm

Good Luck!EM Stokely

[poopboy]

This same problem happened to laptop and never figured out how to fix it. Finally resorted to reintalling Windows. Just do that.

[clayton_ross]

Originally Posted by PTooti

not to panic its not video related simple fix


hit ctrl-alt-delete in task mgr hit file then new task type services.msc

on the services panel look for rpc and rpc locator make sure they are both set to automatic start then log out and log back in...voila!

I hope this works for you

i dont know about any viruses
but this was my problem it started after i removed my computer from a domain and change back to the admin acount
my rpc locator was set to manual and i changed it to auto and rebooted and all is well

[scumbi]

If all these suggestions for someone didn’t help then there is one more thing. Make sure the registry key looks like this:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Userinit"="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\userinit.ex e

Not for example c:\windows\system32\sdra64.exe (Trojan)

After changing the reg key (and removing all the s**t from PC) Explorer.exe loaded at startup with no problems.

[fitz91701]

Thanks Lauraanne - this is what fixed my problem.

Originally Posted by Lauraanne

I had the same problem and found this on a forum and after trying everything, it worked for me. Hope it helps!

I read many posts related to the topic and eventually did the following:

1. booted up to windows
2. ctrl+alt+del to get windows task manager
3. File, new task, typed regedit, clicked ok
4. go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current
Version\Image File Execution Options\
5. In there I had an explorer.exe folder that I deleted (you may have an
entry in the root of the Image File folder as well.. delete them also).
6. Rebooted and everything was back to normal.
7. Breathed a sigh of relief.

You can back up the explorer.exe folder (and files in the Image File
Execution Options root if applicable) by exporting them before the deletion
process.

Hopefully this thread will save many people lots of time in the future.

[stueybuk]

Thanks LauraAnne this also solved the problem for me.

[Unoraptormon]

I have no icons, no task bar, no right click, no windows explorer, no sound, and I can't run CDs. I have tried ya'll suggestions but none work. Anyone know how I can fix this?