Desktop and start menu disappearing

[BiJae]

I have a computer (happens to be the CEO's) that has a wierd issue happening to it. When the computer boots up the log in menu is presented. He logs in just fine, the start menu appears, then disappears. The active desktop background stays. The operating system appears to be working fine, however the only way to get applications to run is to use CTRL+ALT+DEL and bring up the task manager. I've tried putting EXPLORER.EXE in the run command, however the start menu only appears for a moment.

I tried to install SP 2 again thinking that would overwrite some registry keys, but no dice. SO I followed the advice in another thread and used the XP cd rom to do a system repair. THat didn't work either. I have the same issue.

Has ANYONE come across this type of problem before? I'd like to be able to salvage the computer without having to re-install everything again (disks have moved in the last two years). I have most everything backed up but don't have all the application disks to install all the programs.

ANY suggestions are greatly appreciated..

Thank you,

http://www.bijae.net

"If the only prayer you said in
your whole life was, 'thank you,'
that would suffice."
-- Meister Eckhart

 

[bcastner]

faq608-4650


____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[linney]

Have you tried from Safe Mode, or from Normal Mode with another username?

 

[BiJae]

Yes, I've tried Safe Mode and with another user name. Both produce the same results. I've run three different malware and adware programs to see if I can catch a hijack program but haven't been able to find the culprit. :-(

http://www.bijae.net

"If the only prayer you said in
your whole life was, 'thank you,'
that would suffice."
-- Meister Eckhart

 

[bcastner]

IE 7 Final installed? + Google Desktop Search Installed?

. Access Task Manager, and then File, New Task (Run)
. CMD
. CD \Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search
. GoogleDesktopSearchSetup.exe -uninstall
. Exit

Reboot.

IE 7 Final installed?
Uninstall.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/ie/releasenotes/default.aspx

Then remove any Third-party toolbars from IE.

See Sandi Hardemier's installation notes for IE 7 Final:

http://msmvps.com/blogs/spywaresucks/archive/2006/10/18/182724.aspx

See Microsoft's Installation Notes:
. In Release Notes cited above
.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

____________________________
Users Helping Users

 

[BiJae]

I didn't have IE7 installed, but I did do the uninstall for google desktop and everything came back!

Thank you very much for this valuable information.

http://www.bijae.net

"If the only prayer you said in
your whole life was, 'thank you,'
that would suffice."
-- Meister Eckhart

 

[rfarnell]

I have managed to uninstall the Google desktop and didn't have IE7 installed, but have had no luck recovering the system in question. I have had numerous software problems with the Dell Optiplex GX520.

I didn't have IE7 installed at the time of the problem, but have tried to install and then uninstall with no changes.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Rob

 

[linney]

rfarnell,

What problems are you having, you don't really say? If it is the exact same problem as "BiJae", have you tried some of the earlier suggestions from the beginning of the thread, and what was that outcome?

Are you seeing any errors in the Event Viewer?