Re: Desktop with no icons or start menu

Well, Mark, no luck. Five hours later, the same thing only now the desktop
has a box that never loads that says "Personal Settings" in it. I have tried
everything I could from the Task Manager, no luck. Whenever I try to use the
"My Computer" option, it freezes. If I go to msconfig, and then choose the
"System Restore," the hourglass moves and it never comes up. It's just not
working.

Everything is still in the computer, files and all, but you cannot access
any icons or a start menu and it takes literally about 8 minutes boot up onto
an empty wallpapered desktop.

I am out of suggestions, except telling him to call The Geed Squad. Mom has
had it! Wish there was something else left to try. I did the chkdsk/r and
the boot to recovery disk and then enter, which took a long time, both of
them, and just not luck.

Thanks for trying.

"Lori" wrote:

Mark,
Thanks again for your really fast reply. My son will be home this afternoon
and I will go give this a shot on his computer. I will keep you posted.
Have a great day!

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

Yes, Dell Recovery CD's are complete XP setup disks. You will get recovery
Console, and a/or Repair setup, as needed.

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Mark L. Ferguson
.

"Lori" <Lori@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2669C9CA-1C43-451D-891B-8774D3195071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you, Mark, for the quick reply. I just want to confirm, you are
saying
to do this from the Dell Recovery CD? I can only figure that's what
you're
referring to. Don't want to take anything for granted, though. I
appreciate
your help.

Lori

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

Best guess is some simple hard drive damage due to the moving around. I
would run chkdsk.

Boot to setup CD, press 'r' for repair.
At that prompt, enter:
CHKDSK /R

It's likely this will fix it, but if not, you reboot to CD and this time
press ENTER to start setup. It will find the installed system, and offer
to
'Repair' it.

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"Lori" <Lori@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4A41EFC1-0BF8-4DA4-8ABC-8BA805AAEAB3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We moved my son last weekend and when we plugged in and set up his
computer,
it boots at a snail's pace and only goes as far as the desktop page
with
no
icons, no ability to access the start menu, virtually unusable. When
he
disassembled it, he admitted to just unplugging it rather than turning
it
off
properly.

How can I fix this, if possible? I can't even get into safe mode
without
it
freezing. I do have a recovery XP disc (Dell), so should I try that by
putting the boot sequence into the CD drive first? I feel so sorry for
him
as he really needs his computer. It is an older Dell, but was working
before
the move.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

.