Got a mates PC tonight and although it seems to boot up fine and mouse works all I can see is the desktop wallpaper.

Ctrl/Alt/Delete does nothing
There are no icons
No task bar

I have used a boot disk and the data is still on the PC (Dell). I was planning to pop in the OS disk and effect a repair. However there is no repair option with the OEM disk that came with the unit.

Any ideas chaps?

Cheers

TONY

 

Tried, but it won't even boot in safe mode

TONY

 

if you right click on the desktop do you get the menu?

If so change the vid card to a standard VGA one and reboot, then re-install the correct drivers for the card

 

No right click options. Only thing that is happening on desktop is the mouse cursor moving around but no clicks!!!

TONY

 

Have you got a normal WinXP home CD? You in theory should be able to use that to do a repair... I guess it would help if its a similar service pack level too.

 

No Alex I ain't. That was my intention, but mate only has OEM naff disk and Microsoft only send the Pro version with the Action Pack subscription.

Wanted to get this fixed tonight as well!!!

TONY

 

Sounds like explorer isnt running or corrupt , explorer runs the start menu icons and the task bar etc ,

Safe mode should boot , press down f8 key when the machine goes past post *
just after it shows your drives and memory etc after power on*

you should get the menu to start windows normaly or choose safe mode.

Are you logging in as the admin or guest accounts ?

i recently had this with a bit of spyware which hijacks explorer , but instead it corrupt mine. i managed to to use the cd and do a repair.

 

I have done all AV and spyware checks whilst running from a boot disk. Safe mode really isn't working. Can't log on as anyone as all I have is the desktop wallpaper as soon as XP has loaded.

Cheers

TONY

 

Something about a creek springs to mind - sorry chap

 

Reinstall, registry is fooked probably.