NO TASKBAR; NO DESKTOP ICONS

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

Your Desktop Icons Are Missing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330170&Product=winxp

Visit http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm and scroll down to
Item No. 195 (right column), click on "Restore Desktop Icons and
Taskbar".

Install the registry fix, then reboot your computer.

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/window...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Rachel" wrote:

| I'm pretty sure the title is self explainatory. I went to sleep last night
| with the computer on and when I woke up this morning the blue screen was
| there. I restarted and when Windows loaded the taskbar and the desktop icons
| were missing. It's been like this all day. I've done System Restores and
| uninstalled recent things that I've installed.
|
| I'm not sure what you will need to know in order to be able to answer or
| help me with my problem so just ask for specifics and I'll do my best to tell
| you them.
|
| Please help, It would mean alot.

After starting the PC, and logging in, all I get is a blank desktop (it actually has a backdrop picture, but nothing else).

There is no taskbar, no desktop icons, and and right click on the desktop generates no popup menu.

All I can do is ctrl-alt-del to run task manager.

I then try to run explorer, but I get the message:

windows cannot find c:\windows\explorer.exe blah blah blah

I hit browse, and take a look into the windows folder, and find explorer.exe just sitting there, together with explorer(2).exe

I try running explorer(2).exe and it starts windows explorer, but nothing else... Normally, starting explorer manually, should also start the taskbar, etc... not not in this case.

I use the "currently running" explorer to double-click on explorer.exe, but I still get the "windows cannot find c:\windows\explorer.exe" etc etc

I try reimage.com (I have a trial version, so I've been waiting for a stuffed PC to try it out), but it fails to fix the problem.

OK, back to the usual way of fixing things:

I remove the HDD, and scan it from the office PC. I finds about 10 infections, and clean them up.

I put the HDD back in the PC, but the mysterious explorer.exe still refuses to work.

I start searching the net for solutions.

For once, I find many solutions... too many solutions... and none of them work until I eventually find:

run regedit

go to: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\explorer.exe

rename the explorer.exe entry to something like explorer.exx

reboot PC

Problem solved!

Alright, I go to Image File Execution Options. I just click on IFEO, not expanding it. There is only a 'Default' string, no 'explorer.exe'. Help?

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey