Start Menu, Taskbar, Desktop not functioning

System shut down for a windows update, when it rebooted and I logged in, only a window to My Computer opened (explorer.exe). System is a Toshiba Satellite A665-S6086 running Windows 7.

The start menu, menu bar, desktop don't appear in safemode either. Additionally, the shortcut buttons for volume/disabling internet access aren't functioning properly. Performing a system restore did not help.

Does not seem to be caused by malware.

 

If it were that easy I wouldn't be asking for help here.

I've tried launching explorer through cmd and task manager when both elevated to admin, but this only opens a window to My Computer.

 

At a cmd prompt try 'sfc /scannow'

 

That suggests you consider yourself pretty computer savvy. In that case you will have been regularly imaging your system, so how about restoring an earlier image?

 

I did. Did not report anything wrong.

I was going to figure out how to do that when I first got the machine, but I put it off and then didn't bother to get around to it.

 

tried f8 -safe mode-? tried f8 -repair my computer-? This machine also as f11-diagostics?

 

I stand corrected. This machine has - F9 diagnostics -

 

Do you know which windows update? Tried a system restore?

 

F9 diagnostics is unhelpful, since other than changing oses, it gives me an option I can reach through F8.

System Restore didn't help, and now I can't access my older restore points. There were a lot of updates installed on the date I started having issues (looks like there were a number of updates to MS Office 2010 Professional Edition, a few .net 4.5.2 security updates, and 10 security updates + update KB3000988 for Windows itself)

 

It seems like at this point I have no other options other than to do a factory restore, unless there's another option that will at least give me a chance to keep some of the stuff on my hard drive. I'm encountering another odd bug where if I open my mouse settings, it complains that it can't connect to the driver that came installed with the machine, but I can still use the interface to set my mouse settings (until the system reboots that is), so I'm getting the feeling that there won't be an easy fix to this.

The only other thing I'm wondering about is whether there are any programs that might help me find all the files I might care about.

 

Your best option now would be a Repair Install, for which you need a Win 7 installation disk for the same version you have now. You probably do not have such a disk but it can legally be downloaded from Digital River and burnt to DVD, providing you still have that capability. If not then you need to call on the help of a friend.

 

If you can do a factory restore ; the better ones I've done offered a chance for a backup before getting down to work. Last one I did was 8.0 took 5 disk and saved the owner folders plus program file and windows. 2000 family phots and couple hundred videos. Even if the backup option isn't there you should have one last chance to 'cancel' before the real deal starts. I also have recovered many files after a redo that were still found on the fresh install.