Desktop disappears - taskbar present

My Win2000 machine has a problem.. whenever I am done using an application windowed or full screen, I'm dumped to a blank screen. No icons, but I do have my taskbar. In order to see the desktop icons, I have to go to the taskbar - where there is an icon (among 4 others) that is "Show Desktop". I click that & all returns to normal - until I open an application - where the process starts all over again.

Note that this problem is different from other posts that complain about no desktop AND no taskbar!

The PC is used at work - and the apps were installed by someone other than me. I do have ATI HydraVision (running 1 monitor) I've disabled it as much as I can - I think this might be part of the problem, but not sure. Any help would be appreciated!

 

Hey Tim - thanks for the response.. I'll check it Monday at when I get back to work.

 

Nope - the key is already set to 0

 

Well, I updated HydraVision (I can't seem to locate an uninstall - looks like it's part of the ATI drivers).. the problem is still present. I'm going to have to see if it's still there with just the VGA drivers installed. I don't have another graphics adapter to install (work PC).

 

Hmmz...

Hydravision is not part of ATI drivers.. It's an individual software with either Basic or Full installs..

Ahouls be right below ATI Drivers in Add / Remove software in your control panel..

There's one thing but it's not Hide icons which disables desktop.. It's remove the icons.. If you have Disabled all Icons in Desktop the Desktop would do what you are saying and thats hmm........... Can't locate the reg key now.. darn.. anyhow.. add My Computer to your Desktop with some tweaker like Tweak UI would be easiest way to test. Also if you have played with Active Desktop would check that it's turned ON temporary and see does the desktop return. Since if you Disable Active Desktop > and Wallpaper stretch is on the whole desktop vanishes when disabling active desktop feature.

 

there's both Hydravision and new ATI drivers for Windows 2000..

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27

 

Hi Tim,

I have been searching still for a solution to this problem, and think I might have finally stumbled upon it.. I just need to confirm if this a possibility for the symptoms. *SECONDARY LOGON" (aka "run as service") From what I've read, it looks to be the animal. Do you or anyone else have any ideas about this? Thanks!