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Thread ID: 73010 2006-10-04 05:42:00 My desktop icons and Taskbar have gone yorkshirekid (9033) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
489119 2006-10-04 05:42:00 Recently, after I've logged into my SP2 Win XP pro account (any other members of the family do the same on their account), the desktop is clean of ALL icons and the taskbar is gone. I've tried:

multiple log-off log-ons
restarts
shutdown and then restart
reading multiple forums
disabling UPnP service (as advised on a forum)


None of these have worked. However, a restart does, on some occassions (like now), perform perfectly. There seems to be no pattern.

I have not installed or uninstalled anything recently other than WU, and the probelm started before that.

You should know that in this mode there is no function possible from the mouse or keyboard other than the use of Ctrl+Alt+Del which bring ups the Task Manager (from which I can do stuff). Not a lot of use other than offering a soft restart/shutdown or browsing to an exe.

I have had a long standing problem in that the kilf service will not start, but it has been like this for over a year without any problem regarding the desktop. This icon/taskbar thing is a recent fault and I would appreciate some advice from anyone please.
yorkshirekid (9033)
489120 2006-10-04 08:55:00 Hi
Sounds like a bug . . . . .


Visit at least two of the following sites for an online virus scan:

BitDefender Free Online Virus Scan
. bitdefender . com/scan/licence . php" target="_blank">www . bitdefender . com
Make sure you tick AutoClean under Scan Options .

Panda ActiveScan
. pandasoftware . com/active . . . n_principal . htm" target="_blank">www . pandasoftware . com
Make sure you tick Disinfect automatically under Scan Options .

Housecall at TrendMicro
. trendmicro . com/hou . . . /start_corp . asp" target="_blank">housecall . trendmicro . com
Make sure you tick Auto Clean .

eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner
. ca . com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan . aspx" target="_blank">www3 . ca . com

=======

Please download the trial version of Ewido Security Suite here:
. ewido . net/en/download/" target="_blank">www . ewido . net
Install it, and update the definitions to the newest files .

Next, please reboot your computer in Safe Mode by doing the following:
1) Restart your computer
2) After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8 .
3) Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear
4) Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode .

For additional help in booting into Safe Mode, see the following site:
. pchell . com/support/safemode . shtml" target="_blank">www . pchell . com


Once in Safe Mode, please run Ewido, and run a full scan . During the scan it will prompt you to clean files, click OK .
Save the logfile from the scan .

Reboot normally after doing the above, rescan with hijackthis, then post that log here please, along with the log from Ewido .
Pancake (6359)
489121 2006-10-04 10:41:00 Sounds like a nasty virus is preventing "explorer.exe" to start up, which is what supplies you with your Icons, Start menu and taskbar. Are you able to ctrl+allt+delete ??.

If so, try finding the process called "explorer.exe". if it is there, then right click it and select end task.

if it isnt there go to File > New Task (Run...)

And type "explorer" and press enter or Ok. this should give you your icons and taskbar back, if this works, then it wont be a permanent fix, and still highly recomend you do a virus scan as suggested above.
Jams (1051)
489122 2006-10-05 09:42:00 I should have mentioned that I'd aready done a malware and virus check . Also used hijackthis . All turned up nothing . In fact - I've done this twice now . System restore is tuned off btw .

Today I've had the problem 3 times out of 5 logon's .

Jams - yes i can ctrl-Alt-Del, as I said in my original post, thanks . :help:
yorkshirekid (9033)
489123 2006-10-07 06:54:00 Ok - done another virus and malware sweep. Nothing shown. I use Bit Defender. Xoftspy and Spybot. And Kaspersky AV 6.0

Also tried a restore with my original disk.

Back at square 1. Advice please.............
yorkshirekid (9033)
489124 2006-10-07 07:37:00 Please download HijackThis (www.cyberanswers.org). It will create a directory folder for you in C\Program files. Run a scan and save the log file. Post the whole log file here. Do not fix anything since most of them listed there are harmless (some are system required). This program will help determine what,if any, spyware/malware is on your computer.

Also download SILENT RUNNERS (www.silentrunners.org) to a new folder,... Unzip if Zipped, and run the Silent Runners.vbs file.
Open the "Startup Programs.txt" file it creates, and copy/paste the contents to this post, please.
The "Startup Programs.txt" file will be in the folder you ran the "Silent Runners.vbs" file from.
Pancake (6359)
489125 2006-10-07 15:56:00 Hi Yorkshirekid
It would be wise to save whatever you can on to floppy and rewipe your machine asap.

[Edit: please ignore nethaniels post, it is obviously school holidays which is reflected in the inappropriate advice and troll like post he has made - Jen (Moderator)]
nethaniel (11237)
489126 2006-10-07 19:39:00 Gee, nethaniel, there's something going on with your floppies and wiping. Take a look here (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz). pcuser42 (130)
489127 2006-10-07 22:27:00 Yorkshirekid..........My diagnosis is Homesickness. your computer wants to go home !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PY:2cents: :eek: Poppa John (284)
489128 2006-10-07 22:29:00 Yorkshire kid.............My diagnosis is Homesickness. Yor computer wants to go home. PJ :2cents: :eek: Poppa John (284)
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