desktop disapears

I have a problem I am hoping someone knows about . All the sudden my desktop icons and start menu are gone ...no tool bar down at the bottom either ....just my background picture ...I have to ctrl/alt/dlt in order to start up a program by using the run option . If I minimize what I am working on it is lost forever . If I reboot the problem is fixed temporarily but then for no reason at all ...poof ...gone again .

 

Hi and welcome to MajorGeeks.

Please post relevant details like operating system etc.

 

A quick question.

But before the quick question. This typically relates to some sort of malware (virus/spyare) problem.

When you press CTR:+ ALT + DEL and the task manager appears (I'm assuming you have 2k/xp), what happen when you click FILE, RUN, then type in EXPLORER (press enter). Does your desktop with the menu and icons appear?

What regedit. Replace explorer with regedit. Does that work?