Never gets past logon desktop graphic...

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by pip_finn, Sep 17, 2006.

  1. pip_finn

    pip_finn Private E-2

    Presario 2100 Laptop, Windows XP OS.

    Logon goes fine and gets to the the screen stating "Loading Personal settings", then the desktop graphic appears but no icons or the start bar. You can see the mouse, roll it around the screen, but the desktop never loads.

    I've had this happen on occasion in the past, pressing Ctr-Alt-Del brings up the desktop, but that's not working either.

    Anyone know what's causing this and how to fix it?

    Thanks.
     
    pip_finn, Sep 17, 2006
    #1
  2. Squeaner

    Squeaner Specialist

    If you able to bring up Task Manager using Ctrl-Alt-Del, select the processes tab and look for explorer.exe. If its not running go to File, Run, and type "explorer.exe" and let me know what you find out.
     
    Squeaner, Sep 17, 2006
    #2
  3. pip_finn

    pip_finn Private E-2

    It's not running in the processes tab.

    Upon typing explorer.exe (both w/ and w/o double quotes) in "Create New Task" box (File->Run), it gives an error stating "Windows cannot find 'explorer.exe'. Make sure you typed......"

    I tried "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Windows Explorer.lnk" and nothing happens. No error appears, but nothing else appears either (on the screen or the process list).

    I can run programs from the Run box, but the darn Desktop is not appearing!

    :)
     
    pip_finn, Sep 17, 2006
    #3
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Verify Auto hide is not activated by following the below steps.

    Press CTRL + ESC or your Windows key to make Start menu appear.
    Click Settings and choose Taskbar & Start menu
    Verify that Auto Hide is not checked.
    If Auto Hide is not enabled move the task bar up by following the below steps.

    Press CTRL + ESC or your Windows key to make Start menu appear.
    Try to notice where the Start menu appeared; generally, it should be the bottom left corner.
    Press ESC. You should now notice a small gray line at the location of where the start was.
    Move the mouse over that gray line, when in the appropriate position your mouse cursor should change. Once the mouse cursor changes, click and hold the mouse button and move the bar up.

    HKLM>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon>Shell

    Edit the contents of the Shell tag to Explorer.exe

    Reboot, windows should start normally...

    I discovered the solution. Go to regedit. Then delete these >keys :

    >1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iexplorer.exe and

    >2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\explorer.exe

    >3. Reboot.

    OR:
    Hit the Windows key (i.e. the key between the Ctrl and Alt keys on the left side of the keyboard) and R together. A dialog box should pop up, when it does type "explorer" and hit enter. If that doesn't work, let me know and we will look a little deeper.


    Goto:

    HKLM>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon>Shell

    Edit the contents of the Shell tag to Explorer.exe

    Reboot, windows should start normally...

    OR:
    Go to regedit. Then delete these >keys :

    >1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iexplorer.exe and

    >2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\explorer.exe

    >3. Reboot.

    OR:
    http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

    OR:
    To find the required Registry key, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
    Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StuckRects
    Right-click on the yellow folder named StuckRects (StuckRects2 in later Windows) > Delete. When you restart Windows, the deleted key will be regenerated and, with luck, will bring back a healthy Taskbar with it.
     
    TimW, Sep 17, 2006
    #4
  5. pip_finn

    pip_finn Private E-2

    >1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\iexplorer.exe and

    >2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\explorer.exe
    _________________________________________________________

    Neither iexplorer.exe or explorer.exe are present at those locations in the
    registry.

    Ctrl + Esc is not making anything appear, neither is Windows + R.
    It's not picking up an Internet connection, Kelly's Korner is out.

    The only thing I could do is delete the StuckRects entry from the registry, but after a restart, it's sitting on the image again.

    I can pull up the cmd prompt and run programs from there, that's the only thing accessible.

    Any chance this is caused by a malware/spyware? I've tried all these in Safe Mode, but to no result.
     
    pip_finn, Sep 17, 2006
    #5
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Yes ...to the malware ....it's possible ...http://www.activescan.com

    If nothing is found ...may need to do a repair install.
     
    TimW, Sep 17, 2006
    #6

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds