Re: Start Menu, Icons Not Appearing
From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 08/06/04
- Previous message: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\): "Re: NTFS ?FAT? HELP"
- In reply to: coopws2: "Re: Start Menu, Icons Not Appearing"
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Date: Thu, 5 Aug 2004 19:24:10 -0700
You should have given us all the symptoms to begin with.
As far as the virtual memory is concerned, have you tried selecting system
managed size? If not, try that.
Then, make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a virus scan.
Also, make sure your system has no malware, download, install and run Ad
Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com.
If both of those come up negative, my guess is, your setup is royally
corrupted. Backup your data and then format and install XP from scratch on
a clean drive as follows:
Note, the following instructions will wipe the drive of all information and
files so be sure you first backup your data to some other location:
Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.
A few screens into the boot process, if you see the message on the boot
screen to "Press any key in order to boot from the CD," do so.
After loading drivers and files, you should be taken to a screen with
the following:
To Setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To Repair a Windows XP Installation using Recovery Console press R.
To Quit setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
In your case, press ENTER.
Agree to the License agreement by pressing F8.
You will then be taken to a screen with two options.
To repair the selected Windows XP installation press R.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing,
press ESC.
This will bring you to a partition map where you
can delete, create and format partitions.
Select the drive you wish to format, delete the partition, then create a new
partition, format as desired and continue with XP installation.
-- Michael Solomon MS-MVP Windows Shell/User Backup is a PC User's Best Friend DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/ "coopws2" <coopws2@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1026C908-D76C-47B1-96E0-B95D462466F7@microsoft.com... > Thank you both for your responses, they were helpful. However, after > going > through those steps I do now have a start bar and icons on my > desktop...but > now two new problems have arisen. > > First off, my computer is taking a painfully long time to get from the > point > where the Windows icon appears with the green bar to the point where I can > click on anyone's name, a sequential step. This process takes about 10 > minutes, whereas before it took about 20 seconds. > > Secondly, whenever I click on anybody's name, an error message appears > saying "Limited Virtual Memory," which instucts me to go to Control Panel, > System, Advanced tab, Performance, Settings, Change and 'Custom size' > where I > am supposed to type an initial or maximum paging file size. I have tried > this process at least four or five times today, and after changing these > values to values that are recommended by Windows and re-starting the > computer > as instructed, the computer has reverted back to being painfully slow AND > bringing up the "Limited Virtual Memory" window in spite of what I have > done > in the Control Panel. > > A third problem that was in place before all of this took place was that a > folder entitled System32 would appear and would be impossible to close. > Even > when I would click to close the folder it would magically re-appear > shortly > thereafter. This problem is still in place after the re-install. > > Thank you for your time and your help thus far and I hope you can further > help us with these problems. > "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP Windows Shell/Us" wrote: > >> Boot the system, start tapping F8, when the menu appears, select "Last >> Known >> Good Configuration" and press enter. If that doesn't resolve it, perform >> the steps above but choose Safe Mode. At Safe Mode, you should be >> offered >> the option to use System Restore, accept it and try taking your system >> back >> to a time before this began. If that doesn't resolve it, try a repair >> install as follows: >> NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if >> something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to >> start >> over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed >> up, >> you would lose your data should that eventuality occur. >> >> Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an >> actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP >> CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the >> system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to >> enter >> the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually >> has >> instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you >> see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if >> the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. >> Save >> your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will >> reboot. >> >> When the system boots, a few screens into the process you may see a >> message >> instructing you >> to hit any key in order to boot from the CD along with a countdown. When >> you see this be sure to >> hit a key on the keyboard, if you miss this instruction and the system >> fails >> to boot from the CD, it's too >> late, you'll need to reboot and try again. >> >> Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a >> reference >> asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you >> wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let >> setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers. >> >> Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a >> screen >> with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation >> using the Recovery console. ***The selection you want at this screen is >> "Setup Windows," >> NOT "Repair Windows Installation. >> >> The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you >> to >> press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. >> Setup >> will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your >> version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or >> install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there >> on, follow the screens. >> >> Note, in some cases, you won't receive the repair option, only an option >> to >> reinstall. We have discovered that sometimes this is caused by damaged >> boot.ini file that can be repaired as follows and also note, in the >> instructions, "K" refers to the CD drive in which you have placed the XP >> CD, >> replace that drive letter with the appropriate letter on your system, "K" >> is >> simply an example. >> >> Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option (this is the section I >> told >> you to skip above. In this case, you will need to get to the Recovery >> Console to perform the function below), and if the CD letter is say K: >> give >> these commands >> >> COPY K:\i386\ntldr C: >> COPY K:\i386\ntdetect.com C: >> (two other files needed - just in case) >> ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\boot.ini >> DEL C:\boot.ini >> BootCfg /Rebuild >> >> Once you've completed this function, reboot and see if you can access XP >> as >> sometimes, the problem is the damaged boot.ini. If you still cannot >> access >> XP, then reboot and re-run the repair install instructions at the >> beginning >> of this message. >> >> If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can >> either purchase a retail version of XP which will allow you to perform >> the >> above >> among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery >> routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting >> all >> files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition. >> >> >> >> -- >> Michael Solomon MS-MVP >> Windows Shell/User >> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend >> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/ >> >> "coopws2" <coopws2@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:159A6EDB-0B64-47A7-979D-367495BB1101@microsoft.com... >> > Hello. I am having some serious problems with my computer. Whenever >> > I >> > start up my computer and click on my name (or anybody else's), nothing >> > appears when Windows loads. No start bar appears and no icons appear >> > on >> > my desktop. The only way that I can navigate through windows is by >> > holding down CTRL+ALT+DELT and running the Task Manager. This helps >> > because I can usually get to most things I need but it prevents me from >> > accessing features I can only access from the start bar, such as my >> > Control Panel or Calculator. Also, possibly as a result of this or due >> > to >> > another issue, I have been unable to access Windows Media Player since >> > this problem arose. I have Windows XP and am desperatley in need of an >> > answer to what this problem might be and how it might be fixed. Thank >> > you >> > for your time. >> > -William Cooper >> >> >>
- Previous message: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\): "Re: NTFS ?FAT? HELP"
- In reply to: coopws2: "Re: Start Menu, Icons Not Appearing"
- Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ]
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