Windows 2000 Desktop Does Not Load

From: Paul Krohnert (pkrohnert_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 01/24/05 

Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 16:51:08 -0500

Windows2000 server, Domain Controller. The computer appears to boot
up normally, and comes up to a "Press Control+Alt+Delete to log on"
prompt. Once I enter a valid username & password, the screen shows a
"loading your personal settings", and then goes to a blank blue
screen, sometimes with background wallpaper if the profile has it.
Nothing else ever appears, no start menu, no desktop icons. Pressing
Control+Alt+Delete does give me the Windows Security screen, and I'm
able to log off, reboot or bring up Task Manager, and it seems like
most of the processes have started and seem to be running fine
(including Explorer.exe). Pressing Windows+R (for Run) or Windows+E
(for Windows Explorer) don't do anything at all. The computer is
accessible and manageable over the network.

I have tried logging on with a user that has never logged onto the
computer before to see if it was a corrupted profile, but received the
same results. I rebooted into Safe Mode and logged in - same results.
Rebooted into Safe Mode - Command Prompt Only, and did receive a
command prompt. From there I was able to re-apply SP4, but this still
didn't help. I renamed the "All Users" profile, but still no luck. I
checked the event logs, and there doesn't seem to be anything helpful
in them either.

I checked for the files listed in MSKB 256194
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;256194), and
none of them where there either - but I did notice something
interesting with that test. When I open up task manager, and then
select New Task (Run), it opens the Run windows, but then next thing I
do (press a key, move the mouse, etc) causes both the Run window and
the Task Manager to close immediately.

I reset the %systemroot% permissions according to MSKB 162031
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/162031/EN-US/), but still no luck.

Any help or suggestions on things to try would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance...

Paul Krohnert

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