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Thread ID: 118454 2011-06-05 08:58:00 icons disappear lakewoodlady (103) Press F1
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1207024 2011-06-05 08:58:00 I have been looking at a lady's old computer and there is a problem with the desktop icons disappearing shortly after it loads the desktop. The background picture shows then the icons vanish.
The Start button is there and the dreaded hourglass just stays there for ages. All day in fact.

System is an old Compaq Presario 5000
990 Mhz, 20 GB HDD, 384MB RAM, Windows for Legacy. (some kind of starter pack OS?)

Just wondered if anyone has any clues about how to get it to load properly.
I can get it into Safe Mode, but then can't get on the net or do much else from then on. Can it be saved or should I just tell her it's a piece of *^^#?

LL
lakewoodlady (103)
1207025 2011-06-05 09:01:00 So its 3.11? 95, 98? It sounds ancient Speedy Gonzales (78)
1207026 2011-06-05 09:05:00 Wait, how big is the computer? Is it a thin one or a fullsized desktop one?


So its 3.11? 95, 98? It sounds ancient

I think it's an embedded OS for dumb terminals or something.
bot (15449)
1207027 2011-06-05 09:06:00 Hi Lakewoodlady

Is if possible to do a complete reinstall? If so that would be my first step.

Are you able to open any internal programs on it?

What the operating system? Sounds like Windows 98 to me.


BURNZEE
Burnzee (6950)
1207028 2011-06-05 09:08:00 Might be this??

en.wikipedia.org
Speedy Gonzales (78)
1207029 2011-06-05 09:15:00 Might be this??

en.wikipedia.org

That's what I was thinking of.
bot (15449)
1207030 2011-06-05 09:26:00 LL.

Rebuild the icon cache maybe but there's probably more to it.
smallvoid.com

Has she got the media to reinstall?
Snorkbox (15764)
1207031 2011-06-05 09:39:00 Might be this??

en.wikipedia.org

Only avaliable to SA customers, I don't think I've ever seen it in the wild.
Alex B (15479)
1207032 2011-06-05 09:41:00 Might be this??

en.wikipedia.org

Yes, that's exactly what it is. A right pita.

Went to turn it on again just now and nothing at all on the monitor, nothing, nil, zero, zilch.
Computer comes on, makes all the right noises, fans etc. Now I am thinking it is a dead piece of *^%&!

LL
lakewoodlady (103)
1207033 2011-06-05 09:50:00 LL .

Rebuild the icon cache maybe but there's probably more to it.
smallvoid.com

Has she got the media to reinstall?

Nope, no media for it anyway. She bought it cheap some years ago from an ex boyfriend. The daughter was only using it to Facebook, homework and other stuff that 13 year olds do.

I have tried it on two different monitors now and still nothing. Maybe bad RAM?

LL
lakewoodlady (103)
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