No Desktop Icons - Ctrl+alt+del - No System Restore?
Aug 6, 2008
I am working on an older Dell P4 with Win XP which is having some odd problems. First of all, when it loads up there are no desktop icons, only the background picture. I've tried hitting CAD to see what I could see but all that happens is that the hourglass comes on for a second and then goes away. Same thing happens with ctrl-shift-esc. You can not bring up the Task Manager menu. Clicking the right mouse button also does not bring up a menu. I figured that I might try to do a system restore in Safe Mode though when I restart and hit F8 and choose to go to the safe mode, I get the "Safe Mode" text around the outer edges of the screen, but still no desktop icons. I haven't found much in the CMOS which I can play around with, just standard settings options.
As far as I know, this computer was working ok until a few days ago when it started to intermittently have the no desktop icons problem. The user says that the problems seemed to correlate with their virus program, though I am not sure. I have tried all the startup under options under the F8 menu and booting with the XP sys disc to see if any rebuilding could be done though have made no progress.
I'm running Windows XP professional and when I change my desktop icons (my computer, my documents, my network places, recycle bin full and & empty) they revert back to the default settings when I restart my system. This doesn't effect my wallpaper, start menu settings or personalized colors, only the icons. The file that I'm using is an *.ico file which I know works fine. (I've used this file when I was still using windows 98.) I've also tried making a "theme" with the saved settings and that doesn't seem to work either. I'm wondering if it's some simple setting that I'm over looking. Something stupid like "Restore default icons on restart"...I'd rather not edit my registry if I don't have to.
I am running Win XP Pro with SP2 (standard setup). The problem: A couple of the icons in the system tray don't show up on re-boot. Specifically, the 'safely remove hardware' icon, and a backup utility called 'second copy' that runs on startup. When I 'restore' to the exact same point, everything is fine. When I reboot, gone again. And when they are gone, I can't run the backup utility (it won't start). What is different about the restore utility that makes it work if I restore to the same exact point. This all started with I tried to uninstall and reinstall Norton Utilities (which seems to be working fine).
Every time I start up my computer and goes to the desktop, there are no icons, toolbars, or even the "Start" button, it only shows the desktop background, and all I can use is the Task Manager to access a couple of programs. I tried using Norton Antivirus, but did not find anything, so I uninstalled it. My "CPU Usage" is at 0 and 1% almost dead, I saw that the explorer.exe is missing. I ran it with the Task Manager, and it made the computer reboot the wrong way. When it did, it did not go to the desktop it just showed black screen with the little "-" on the top left and couldn't do anything and the buffer is barely doing anything, you know, when you open a program, the light flashes rapidly and making noises,
I have a client who is experiencing a strange issue that I thought I'd see if anyone else has faced. About 30% of the time when he boots his PC, his desktop is different. The icons are moved, and a different size. But if he then reboots, they'll return to their normal positions. This has happened many times. It seems like a weird profile thing, but I'm stumped.
I have two problems the first, my system crashes every time that I try to change an icon on the desktop. If I want to rename or delete a icon I have to use explore to do so. Also some times when using the explore the system crashes. I have run virus scans, defrag, Norton Windows Utilities, and Spy Sweeper all come back clean. I go to the task list to check what processes are running but everything seems to low. The cpu shows 2% to 4% usage. My second problem is USB connections. I can no longer sync with my Dell Axim. I have disconnected and reconnected the USB connection and reinstalled the Microsoft 4.2 Activesync software but nothing helps. My USB printers still works.
For some odd reason my Icons on the desktop refresh after losing some programs.Is there some way the 'system' may have lost the data? can this be restored in some way?
My domain is 2003 server with XP as the clients. I also use Group Policies. I can only remote desktop into a client machine if they are already logged in. If their machine is at the Ctrl Alt Del screen I get this msg "You do not have access to logon to this session".
i have searched everywhere to do this , no site seemed to know how to get rid of it so i am helping the troubled with this problem, well not really a problem but an adjustment..it is a piece of cake. first right click on the desktop, go to arrange icons by ,uncheck lock web items to desktop(bang it's done).
After a malware infection (Inet2 and SpySherriff - which took over my desktop) I cleaned up some files, directories and registry-entries. Now, after the cleaning activity as explained by techguys, everything seems going well. All programs do start without problems (through the start-menu or the quick-start taskbar), but there is a small drawback: my desktop screen shows only my wallpaper, there are no icons. The right-mouse click on the desktop also doesn't work (although the desktopsettings are accessible through the control panel). I use WinXP pro. what is wrong and how do I get the icons back on the screen?
I'm usually pretty proficient in handling typical squirreliness with my computer but this one's a tough one for me to wrap my mind around. Here's my computer specs:Just recently I'd been gone to work and my girlfriend was at home on the computer.She usually goes on myspace, xanga, facebook a lot and generally doesn't stray far from those activities. I got home and she pointed out the computer was acting weird. When I hit ctrl+alt+del, the screen just gets a light blue sheen over it until I click and then it's gone with no sign of the task manager. Also in firefox I cannot use the ctrl keys. The left ctrl key when pressed immediately makes the font size in the window larger and larger and after 2 or 3 presses opens a new tab in firefox. The right ctrl key yesterday was opening a new tab going to gmail and today is doing a variety of things including going back a page and copying text to pages. I can't use any ctrl key combinations in any software without it doing something strange. In Azureus it opens a file's statistics.
I just upgraded from 2k to XP. On 2K i could have all my desktop icons and icons for programs i use down on the task bar above open applications. Im sure theres a way to do this on XP so i dont have to go to my desktop or the start menu every time to open a new program.
I remember few days ago.. my kaspersky identified some system file as a trojan.. so it probably a misunderstanding when i was installing system mechanic. it got deleted.. and i have this automatic option to delete them after they are put in backup in kaspersky. now whenever i open my pc, my desktop and taskbar and start menu,etc goes away after a few seconds! Now i rely on the task manager..
Several unwanted desktop icons appeared recently (I think they come via Search2000 when IE is used). They won't right-click for deletion, nor will they allow themselves to be drop-dragged to the recycle bin. They don't appear in the desktop icon list when using the desktop cleanup feature.
There are no icons or taskbar on my desktop, On any account that I log in on. Cannot access task manager or start menu. How do I recover my desktop? This is a dell desktop pc, windows xp
Turned on other computer this morning. The desktop wallpaper showed. There were no icons or taskbar. I right click on the desktop and nothing happens. I can do a ctrl+alt+del and access the task manager but have no idea on how to restore my desktop. When I startup in safe mode all I get is a black screen.
If someone downloads and runs a trojan and then uses system restore to back to a system restore point prior to running the virus, is that computer still infected?Nocturnal http://www.spywaretalk.org
I have a couple of undesirable icons that magically appear on my desktop even after running adware and spybot numerous times and deleting, deleting, deleting....is there any way I can get them to go away
Is there a way to restore icons in XP/SP2?The problem appears that the HTM or HTMLextension is related to a generic default icon.The HTM-extension opens the link Explorer allright.The well known E icon seems to be missing.The program RESEDIT however shows the E icons in the icons-cache.Whith some applications it is possible to choose, or relate to, another icon Is there a way to repair this error?
Installed Norton Internet Security 2005 and now, whenever I try and do a system restore it says "System restore encountered a problem and has to close". It does this all the time, even in safe mode. Symantec has mentioned that I should turn off NIS2005 and try system restore. If it then works it is a Microsoft issue. I have been onto the Microsoft websites and they do not mention how to repair or reinstall system restore
A Disk Read Error Occurred. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restartThis is what my compaq lap top is saying upon restart. Using XP, I do not have any recovery or diagnostic disks.I have a new laptop and was using the compaq as a back- up. I hadn't used it much in the last month or so and when I turned it on, it was unusually slow.I attempted to defrag the hard drive, and it initialized(after it analyzed). During this time windows shut it down for an update to take effect. Upon restart, this is the message I got: A Disk Read Error Occurred. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart.
For some reason when I click on My Computer, Control Panel, Task Manager for example, they don't open but go straight to my Taskbar. From there I can't maximise/restore these icons from my taskbar. I have searched your site, but can't find an answer that will help me.I am running Windows XP Home Edition with service pack 3 downloaded.As this computer was given to me by a friend I am am not sure if this has been an issue previously. If I click on the flashing My Computer Icon on my taskbar it doesn't open. If I right click and press Restore it still doesn't appear. I have the feeling it is "open" as if I right click again I have the option to minimise or maximise, I just can't see the open window. The only way to open My Computer, for example, is to go to Windows Explorer and access through there. This doesn't appear to be happening with all icons. I can open folders from the taskbar.
I use WinXP Pro SP3.I am Missing the "Shorcut Arrow" on my icons, on the DeskTop, in Windows Explorer, etc. The arrows DO show for internet shortcuts > I use FireFox 3.6.3.I can find A Lot of info on the net about "removing" the arrow... I would like to put it back. I looked into editing the Registry by going backwards form the found info, but there are too many conflicting instructions concerning Location and Values. It's better I leave it alone until I find what's correct. 'Tweak UI 2.10' has the correct Radio Button is selected.The Prefix "Shortcut To" does NOT show [used Tweak UI long time ago to remove it].
Alright, well everybody knows that you can open any folder, select Tools > folder options, select the File Types tab, select the desired extension, select advanced, and edit the icon accordingly. This will change the icon that will appear for any extension that is know to your system.My question is where is this information saved? Whenever you change these icons and hit apply, is there a certain system/text file that is edited to show the directory of the icon source and what extension it applies to? For instance, when you change the icon of a folder a desktop.ini hidden file is saved within the folder that has the directory of the icon. Is there some sort of "master database" text file that has all of this information?
I ask because I want to be able to backup the (extension icon) information and copy it onto any computer system which will in turn instantly change all of my extension icons to my liking. Of course, I would have to copy over my icons to the appropriate directory before doing so but that would not be a problem for me seeing how I have them all saved and organized into a single folder. Again comparing to the folder desktop.ini concept, you can simply copy and paste the desktop.ini file into any folder and the folder's icon/appearance will instantly change to w/e the file says. I want to accomplish this but for the extension icons and all at the same time!
I recently downloaded some drivers as I was trying to install a new printer who's software would'nt load. This did'nt solve the problem. I decided to get a printer that I had had before, Brother DCP-110C as I knew this had worked well. I tried to install yesterday (28th July) but could'nt and my PC keeps switching itself off near the end of the installation. I then thought I would use System restore to go back to a happier time when I had the first Brother printer. previous saved point wont let me to restore
S/Restore system when operated comes up with "Cannot restore your system to an earlier date" Have checked for all spyware and viruses (Nil) Have tried disabling the system and also making new restore dates to no avail. Would kindly request any posssible solutions to the above also any other programme I could install to carry out the same or similiar functions to "Systems Restore
Sometimes you may find the left/right chevron on your notification tray disapears and your icons will no longer hide.To restore the hiding function, just do the following.1. Right click on an empty part of the Taskbar2. From the popup menu select 'Properties'3. The 'Taskbar and Start Menu Properties' window will open.4. Now click the 'Customize...' button5. The 'Customize Notifications' window will open.6. In the column 'Behavior' set each one to 'Always hide' (you only need to do this for the Current Items not the Past Items)7. Now click 'OK'8. The window will close, all your icons will be hidden, and the chevron button will appear again.9. Now click 'Customize' again and restore all your icon settings to what they were before, or whatever you prefer.10. Click 'OK' again to close the window.11. Click 'OK' to close the last window.Your icons will all be hidden until you start using them again. They will then appear as they did before, until Windows looses them again.
I was messing around with CCleaner and deleted something to do with an old version of McAfee (which isn't even on my computer anymore) from the registry. Yes, it was stupid to mess with the registry I guess because I failed to make the backup and now my computer won't boot. I get the blue screen that says there was an error 0x0000008e, or something like that.
I have tried using F8 and choosing the last known good configuration but it doesn't work. Also, I can boot into safe mode and I tried running a system restore but after it finished and I rebooted, it said that I couldn't restore from that point.I haven't really tried another restore because I am a little afraid to do anything. I don't want to risk losing access in safe mode because I need to be able to back up some of my files if in case I have to do a reformat.
My computer had a turn yesterday and kept giving me the blue screen error on start-up, so using my windows disk I managed to run chkdsk. So I can get on now, but certain things won't run, like Media Centre, Firefox has forgotten my settings and also my iriver doesn't get acknowledged when I plug it into a USB port.So I am trying to run System restore to go back a couple of days.I can get into restore, and go through everything up to the point where you click 'next' in order to restore it.I click on next but nothing happens, it just stays there.
I am unable to acess any of my or XP's restore points. When I went to restore to an earlier date. All appeared to be going as it should. However, when I got to my profile a message window came up that said unable to restore to (chosen date/time) etc. I chose 3 other restore points over the last month, thinking it might be some recent problem, still a no go. Any help would be greatly appreciated? Is there a utility to use to check and see if there is something corrupted?
I'm trying to do a system restore without success. It goes through the motions but after it restarts always say "cannot use restore point, no changes have been made to your system". I'm trying to correct a font setting change that happened without my knowledge.
