I have a DEll Dimension 5000, This is running XP Pro SP3. It will boot into windows and give me a blank desktop, I have went into safe mode and did a system restore with no sucess. I get the safe crap

I have created a user within safe mode and have the option to click on the new user in normal mode but it sits on a desktop with no icons

I have booted from the XP cd and attemped a repair, it is looking for a password that I havent got..

I have booted from ERD commander to reset the password and this still will not let me into Reapir mode

I have scanned the harddrive as a Slave disk in another Pc and it found no virus or spyware

What else can i do ?

I have scanned the harddrive as a Slave disk in another Pc and it found no virus or spyware

What else can i do ?

Checkdisk ?

boot normally to the blank desktop

ctrl-alt-del

task manager

file --> new task

explorer.exe

does it return to normal appearance?

Ive since ran the check disk and also tried your solution Iamtheky.

The chkdsk /p found a few errors but still no joy. I Think my only option is to run a repair on the OS now

This means i'll loose all the installed programs

do keystrokes work or is it dead in the water upon boot?

does windows+E still bring up an explorer window?

does windows+R still bring up a run box?

Would suck to rebuild if explorer.exe is your only problem.

none of those key works, noting happenieng

If you boot into Safe Mode, what happens?

Can also try create a new user account and see if u can get normal desktop. If can, just del your existing user account and use this new account. So u do not have to install all application, maybe re-conguration some application setting only.

do you have 2nd video card in?

if so..take it out...or plug your monitor in it....

if you are running a dual monitor setup...the logon screen could be on the other monitor...you are not seeing cause you don't have a 2nd monitor...