Re: Lost any access to computer (desktop, start button, etc.)

From: Rock (rock_at_comcast.nospam.net)
Date: 10/08/04 

Date: Thu, 07 Oct 2004 21:42:32 -0700

Martin wrote:

> Hello.
>
> I'm using windows XP Pro and after a reboot I lost eveything on my
> desktop. There are no start button and no windows taskbar anymore.
> It's like I've lost the explorer on my computer. The only thing I see
> on the screen is my wallpaper. The only way I can use the computer is
> through the TaskManager. Using it, I can start Word, IE, and other
> stuff. I tried to start the restore system software with no success.
>
> Anybody seen this before ? Any suggestions how to fix the problem
> without formatting the hard drive ?

Will it boot into safe mode? If so can you run system restore from
there, and what do you mean you "tried to start the restore system
software with no success"? Was there an error message or no response or
what?

Another thing to try from safe mode is boot into safe mode with command
prompt and try running system restore from the command line:
c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

System restore can get corrupted independent of other system problems,
so even if you can boot into safe mode you might not be able to run
system restore, but if you can get into safe mode that means something
is loading at startup when you boot normally that's causing the problem.

If that's the case when you boot normally, after typing in the password
hold down the shift key as you hit enter and keep the shift key
depressed until the desktop loads. That process by passes start up
programs. If you can boot into normal mode then do some clean boot
troubleshooting to identify the culprit(s).

How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353

If you can't get into safe mode in any form and can't boot normally by
the shift method, then it's time for a repair install:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

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