Start Menu question

Since I got my laptop back from Gateway with a clean HD, when it boots up it always opens the start menu automatically. No biggee, but kinda annoying, as I tend to go straight for the sidebar. Any ideas where the option is to turn this off...I can't find it. Thanks.

 

Odd.

Just to test something. Right click on "START", select properties, then select classic view.

Press OK. Reboot. Does it show up again? If not, change back to start menu (normal)...

 

It doesn;t show up in classic mode. So should I change it back to XP mode and see if it has cleared it now? Or you have another plan?

 

Yes, switch back to xp mode, and see what happens. I won't play pool, until you replay back.

 

It still does it in XP mode

 

Okay, this is odd. Will look into this.

 

Thank you.

 

Okay, try the following. Create a new user account. Log into this user account. Yes, the menu may appear. Select off the screeen (making sure the start menu) is no longer up. Log off, log back into the user account, does the menu still appear?

Reboot, log back into that user account, does it pop up?

 

Not sure what you mean here

 

Meant that the start menu is no longer showing on the screen. As in a normal looking desktop.

 

Still pops up.

Also I now have an account as a computer admin that I don;t want, as it does;t have any of my desktop and preferred settings. How do I remove it and get back to the Gateway Default Administrator?

 

Should be located within the user manager, that you went to, to create a new user account.

I may have to wait till I get to an XP machine at work to help ye. I'm on vista right now, so, my help may be inadequate.

 

Just delete the account you created. Ye should be back to normal. If not, log into your normal account, and do the following:

Click START, then RUN, then type in: control userpasswords2, select the account that normally logs in, then uncheck "users must enter......". Press ok, then type in the password for the logon, in your situation, just press OK. Reboot.

 

OK..just deleting it wasn;t an option.It wouldn't allow me unless I cfreated another administrator account which defeated the object of deleting the other one.

Second option worked fine..thanks.

Still pops up lol

 

When ye created the first account, was it an admin account? Are ye using an admin account?

When going to the user accounts section of the control panel, is your normal account an admin account?

account = username/user account/profile

 

I was originally using the Administrator account it came back set up with. When I just set up an account as you said, I gave it administrator priviledge.

 

Did it happen before you installed Sidebar?

Steve

 

Yes, Steve, it did

 

Just give this a shot.

It is not full proof, but occasionally helps.

Download dial-a-fix:
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4899

Run, dial-a-fix, then press the green check mark. Press go. A window will appear, make sure ye have the correct, time and date, press OK. BTW, after pressing OK, this process may take a wee bit o time.

There are a few other tools, within this app, that may help. But, we should start with this one.

Btw, This is XP sp2 ye running? All updates?

 

Ran it...no difference

Yes this is XP SP2 with all the trimmings downloaded. (Media Edition)

 

I'm just going to throw some stuff out here. The first is a long process....

Click Start, then RUN, then type in: cmd (press enter)

type in:

chkdsk /r c: (press enter).
Yes
yes
exit
reboot.

Also, within dial-a-fix, click the hammer tool. Scroll down, till ye see "repair permissions". Select this, then press go.

This also may take a wee bit'o'time

Reboot.

 

You can also try #117 here, http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Steve

 

Excellent link. I keep forgetting about kellys-korner...

 

Odd that classic mode works, but normal xp mode doesn't for the start menu.

 

Just an update..the dial-a-fix hammer tool didn't work.The Tweaks file didn't work. Still yet to run the chkdsk suggestion.

 

You said, XP media version. Another thing to try:

Click START, then RUN, then type in:

msconfig (press enter).
Click the radial button (selective startup). Uncheck "load startup items". Press ok, yes to reboot.

OR...

BTW, if ye were to boot into safe mode, does the start menu startup?

Once again, just throwing out stuff here.

 

Chkdsk didn't work

The msconfig process didn't work.

 

Have you checked the Desktop.ini for any references?

Also, I'm curious if there is any reference in the below keys, could you export these three, ZIP and upload?

 

Did you update everything from Gateway?

Maybe look for keyboard/touchpad updates.

Steve

 

BJ...can you walk me through this one.....I'm a little out of my depth here. Where do I find this?

@Matacumbie...good point..will check all.

 

First, go into Folder Options and enable the viewing of hidden files and folders and the viewing of system files. See if there is a Desktop.ini file on your desktop. If there is, right click and open with notepad.

For the reg entries, click start > run > regedit

Navigate to each key, right click on the key and select Export.

 

There was no desktop.ini file .

Zipped reg entries attached...thanks for your help BJ.

 

I believe this will take care of your problem, after merging this reboot and let me know.

Copy the contents of the below Quote Box to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fixme.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Then double-click on the fixme.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to Add in to the registry, say yes.

 

I'm sat here grinning...you're awesome Thank you BJ, and thank you everyone else who worked hard to help me resolve this problem. I really appreciate your kindness and I've learnt a few things along the way, as usual.

My laptop is now finally back to how it was before the great crash

 

Awesome, happy to hear it worked and things are back to normal.