HELP!

[LPscottyDawg]

I'm having a problem with my computer. I have XP Professional and something happened. I was on a program, whilst online. I commanded the program to shut down after it finished downloading the files I was downloading. After I restarted my computer, the desktop was blank . The screensaver and mouse are still active and I can bring up the task manager. Even the taskbar is missing. Is there a way to fix this.

[lockedon]

Relax abit,

Welcome to the MSFN Forums

Try this

Since you can bring up the task manager

Click on File

Select New Task

Type in explorer.exe

See if that works. If not start Windows XP in Safe Mode.

[systeman]

Agree with lockedon, should be caused by abnormal deadlock of explorer.exe.

Therefore, My suggestion is that End the process of explorer.exe, then

do what lockedon said.

Click on File

Select New Task

Type in explorer.exe

[stanstan]

I'm having a problem with my computer. I have XP Professional and something happened. I was on a program, whilst online. I commanded the program to shut down after it finished downloading the files I was downloading. After I restarted my computer, the desktop was blank  . The screensaver and mouse are still active and I can bring up the task manager. Even the taskbar is missing. Is there a way to fix this.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Try opening in SAFE MODE then RESTORE to a time when the computer was working.

start/all programs/accessories/system tools/restore

To run System Restore in safe mode

Access System Restore through Help and Support.

Follow the instructions on your screen.

Notes

To access the System Restore Wizard, click Start, and then click Help and Support. Click Performance and Maintenance, click Using System Restore to undo changes, and then click Run the System Restore Wizard.

While the computer is in safe mode, System Restore does not create any restore points. Therefore, you cannot undo a restoration that you performed when the computer was in safe mode.

You can use System Restore to restore your computer to any restore point while in safe mode. If you cannot start the computer in standard mode, you can use System Restore to restore to a time when you could start the computer without errors.

To restore to a time when your computer started without errors, select a restore point as close to the time you remember it last started without errors.

If System Restore is suspended because of insufficient disk space, you cannot enable it by making more disk space available while in safe mode. You must restart the computer in standard mode and make more disk space available.

Startup optionsIf your computer will not start, you might be able to start it in safe mode. In safe mode, Windows uses default settings (VGA monitor, Microsoft mouse driver, no network connections, and the minimum device drivers required to start Windows).

If your computer will not start after you install new software, you might be able to start it with minimal services in safe mode and then change your computer settings or remove the newly installed software that is causing the problem. You can reinstall the service pack or the entire operating system, if necessary.

If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers as possible causes of the computer's inability to start.

The startup options are:

Safe Mode

Starts using only basic files and drivers (mouse, except serial mice; monitor; keyboard; mass storage; base video; default system services; and no network connections). If your computer does not start successfully using safe mode, you might need to use the Recovery Console feature to repair your system.

For more information, see To start the computer in safe mode.

Safe Mode with Networking

Starts using only basic files and drivers, and network connections.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Starts using only basic files and drivers. After logging on, the command prompt is displayed instead of the Windows graphical interface.

For more information, see To start your computer at a command prompt.

Enable Boot Logging

Starts while logging all the drivers and services that were loaded (or not loaded) by the system to a file. This file is called ntbtlog.txt and it is located in the %windir% directory. Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt add to the boot log a list of all the drivers and services that are loaded. The boot log is useful in determining the exact cause of system startup problems.

Enable VGA Mode

Starts using the basic VGA driver. This mode is useful when you have installed a new driver for your video card that is causing Windows not to start properly. The basic video driver is always used when you start in Safe Mode (either Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt).

Last Known Good Configuration

Starts using the registry information and drivers that Windows saved at the last shutdown. Any changes made since the last successful startup will be lost. Use Last Known Good Configuration only in cases of incorrect configuration. It does not solve problems caused by corrupted or missing drivers or files.

For more information, see To start the computer using the last known good configuration.

Directory Service Restore Mode

This is for the server operating systems and is only used in restoring the SYSVOL directory and the Active Directory directory service on a domain controller.

Debugging Mode

Starts while sending debug information through a serial cable to another computer.

If you are using, or have used, Remote Installation Services to install Windows on your computer, you might see additional options related to restoring or recovering your system using Remote Install Services.

To start the computer in safe mode

You should print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available after you shut your computer down in step 2.

Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the drop-down list, click Shut down.

In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.

When you see the message Please select the operating system to start, press F8.

Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.

Notes

In safe mode, you have access to only basic files and drivers (mouse, monitor, keyboard, mass storage, base video, default system services, and no network connections). You can choose the Safe Mode with Networking option, which loads all of the above files and drivers and the essential services and drivers to start networking, or you can choose the Safe Mode with Command Prompt option, which is exactly the same as safe mode except that a command prompt is started instead of the graphical user interface. You can also choose Last Known Good Configuration, which starts your computer using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown.

Safe mode helps you diagnose problems. If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers as possible causes. If a newly added device or a changed driver is causing problems, you can use safe mode to remove the device or reverse the change.

There are circumstances where safe mode will not be able to help you, such as when Windows system files that are required to start the system are corrupted or damaged. In this case, the Recovery Console may help you.

NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will function.

Related Topics

[LPscottyDawg]

...*sighs*

[LPscottyDawg]

I hate to say this, but its not working. im wondering what i did. i really dont want to take it to a repair man...i dont have the extra cash. but im totally stuck. it did happen to pop up like one time, but after I restarted my comp, it f**ked up again.