Missing Desktop Icons and Taskbar

You've booted your PC and there are no icons on the desktop and all you see is your wallpaper. The taskbar isn't showing and when you press the Windows Logo key (WinKey) on your keyboard nothing happens. The process is simple enough:

1. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL
· If you have a setup where that doesn't automatically open Task Manager - then click on Task Manager
2. Click on the Processes tab
3. Look for "explorer.exe"
4. If it's there then right click it and select "End Process Tree" if not then skip that step
5. Click on File
6. Click on New task (run)
7. In the dialogue box type explorer.exe
8. Click OK
9. That should bring up the desktop icons and taskbar if so then reboot and skip Step #11 (next one)
10. If it doesn't bring up the desktop or icons repeat Steps 6 through 7 only type %SystemRoot%\System32\restore\rstrui.exe
11. Restore to an earlier point

If, for some reason, that does not work than you will probably be interested in the following two links:

• Malware Cleaners and Repair
• Corrupt Profile

Finally, if those both prove to be unsuccessful feel free to ask for additional help in the G³ Forum.

OS: XP > General
Date: 01/15/06

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