Background only after login

HP Pavilion ze5170 XP pro over home. I get my background only after login. No error messages. Can bring up the task manager and do most anything. Actually using it to send this. Attemted several restore points but it would never restore to that date.

 

Additional info: there are only 23 processes running in task manager

 

explorer.exe isn't running. In Task Manager under Applications click on New Task type explorer.exe a click OK. Does that bring up your desktop?

 

the task bar at the bottom attempts to come up and the computer makes a quick buzz sound, but it doesnt come up

 

Does it work in Safe Mode?

 

no it will not

 

Put your XP CD into the dCD drive and boot to the recovery console

Issue the following commands:

del c:\windows\explorer.exe

expand c:\i386\explorer.ex_ c:\windows

if there is no C:\i386 then issue this command

expand d:\i396\explorer.ex_ c:\windows
NOTE: where d: is your CD drive letter - type map at the command prompt to determine your cd drive letter.

Now reboot.

You will have torun windows update after you have done the above.