active desktop disappears

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

i recently purchased a laptop: after updating windows i restarted the
computer. windows loaded normally, or so it appeared. a few seconds after
the active desktop had loaded, it disappeared suddenly. i frantically tried
to use system restore, but to no avail. the only way i could access this
site, or any other program for that matter, was to use the task manager.
Could someone please tell a technologically impaired person like me what to
do.