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Home→Technical→no taskbar, no desktop icons, no right click

no taskbar, no desktop icons, no right click

Computer Aid Posted on by

This infected XP system was strange.

After starting the PC, and logging in, all I get is a blank desktop (it actually has a backdrop picture, but nothing else).

There is no taskbar, no desktop icons, and and right click on the desktop generates no popup menu.

All I can do is ctrl-alt-del to run task manager.

I then try to run explorer, but I get the message:

windows cannot find c:windowsexplorer.exe blah blah blah

I hit browse, and take a look into the windows folder, and find explorer.exe just sitting there, together with explorer(2).exe

I try running explorer(2).exe and it starts windows explorer, but nothing else… Normally, starting explorer manually, should also start the taskbar, etc… not not in this case.

I use the “currently running” explorer to double-click on explorer.exe, but I still get the “windows cannot find c:windowsexplorer.exe” etc etc

I try reimage.com (I have a trial version, so I’ve been waiting for a stuffed PC to try it out), but it fails to fix the problem.

OK, back to the usual way of fixing things:

I remove the HDD, and scan it from the office PC. I finds about 10 infections, and clean them up.

I put the HDD back in the PC, but the mysterious explorer.exe still refuses to work.

I start searching the net for solutions.

For once, I find many solutions… too many solutions… and none of them work until I eventually find:

run regedit

go to: HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Optionsexplorer.exe

rename the explorer.exe entry to something like explorer.exx

reboot PC

Problem solved!

Comments

no taskbar, no desktop icons, no right click — 15 Comments

  1. wow wish I had seen this last week I ended up formatting a computer b/c I could not find a fix for this and the customer was wanting the computer back.

  2. I had that same problem, but as I was rebooting the pwoer went off due to Gustav (it was just windy, so i wasn’t expecting the power to go out…especially for a week). Now, i believ my comp is totally useless.

    I can’t even star windows. It says it’s corrupt. It tried starting once and then shut itself down.

    Any ideas?

    I have a Dell, btw.

  4. I found you blog through an extensive web search. I am experiencing a similar scenario with my PC (no taskbar) and have tried several web-suggested options to resolve it without success.

    I was rather relieved to find your registry edit suggestion but alas no such string exists :o( so I can’t change anything.

    Whilst I can get explorer.exe to run (through Task Manager)it keeps looping off and on with the task bar appearing for a short time and then disapearing again.

    Do you have any other suggestions?

  5. Hi Carl.

    Its difficult to suggest what to do, as there can be countless reasons for explorer not starting.

    Assuming you have totally removed any infection (VERY important), then you could take a look at HiJackThis (but if you delete the wrong entry in HJT, you can make your PC worse).

    Another solution is to do a repair installation of windows XP (assuming you don’t have a name-brand PC like Acer, Asus, lenovo/IBM, HP, Toshiba, etc.

  6. I found a similar problem.

    But with this one, the fix was much simpler:

    – shutdown the PC.
    – unplug the power from the wall (remove battery if its a laptop)
    – press the power button
    – reconnect power/battery

  7. This solution worked for me. The only additional step I took was to start explorer in the taskbar since my desktop did not come up immediately on reboot.

    It found explorer.exe this time and restored my desktop.

    Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. One more comment…..I am running Windows XP and the registry location is:

    go to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Optionsexplorer.exe

    It took three days to find you but what a savings.

  9. it worked beautifully – was a little confused about the Windows NT at first but found it – thanks. And yes, it’s VERY important to run a virus check first – my sons computer was loaded down with ’em.

    THANK YOU

  10. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionImage File Execution Optionsexplorer.exe there is no explorer.exe in image file execution option

  11. I also have the same problem and cant find the explorer.exe in the image file excution options. thank you

  12. No desktop icons? — hit Ctrl+ALt+Del(will open Task Manager) and kill the explorer.exe process and click file–> [new task] and type explorer on the box or Boot as safe mode.

    Create a batch file on your startup folder.

    Open your startup folder and create New Text Document and type:

    @echo off
    tskill explorer

    ..then save as explorer.bat on your startup folder

    That should put back your desktop icons on your next re-boot.

  13. Please ignore my previous reply, the batch file doesn’t work on certain Desktop problem.

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