No Start Menu or Desktop icons

Hello rauerd =)

seems like works of a spyware\adware =|

CHECK FOR SPYWARES:
----------------------------
AdAware ==> http://www.spychecker.com/program/adaware.html
SpyBot  ==> http://www.spychecker.com/program/spybot.html
SpySweeper ==> http://www.spychecker.com/program/spysweeper.html
SpywareBlaster ==> http://www.spychecker.com/program/spywareblaster.html
CoolWebShredder ==> http://www.spychecker.com/program/coolwebshredder.html 
OR Use the Tools given here >> http:Q_20975384.html

still no luck then Download HijackThis v1.98.2, run it, Save the LOG file and Post it here:
http://tools.radiosplace.com/HijackThis.exe

Where did you download this update from?  If it was from a windows related site, it's just coincidence.  I would try to run the spysweeper first, then the adaware.  I have found that you are most likely to get spysweeper to run first.  If your system is as bad as you say it is, then many of these programs (i.e. adaware, spybot) are not going to run well.  I would make sure you run the spysweeper first.

affter you have checked for problams with spy ware and viruse use system restor to undo the changes win meda has made on your computer the go to the windows update site and get any updates you need

Do the system restore first, or you'll reverse the changes made to the registry by Adaware!!!!!

When you press CTRL+ALT+DEL, is CPU usage high?

I'm on travel this week and be back Friday evening, but will answer everyones questions:

- I Downloaded Media Player from good old Microsoft.

- I ran Spyaware and a virus sweep with Norton antivirus (with latest updates from both).

- I do not have Spysweeper, but will get it and try it.

- How do I do a System Restore in XP?

P.S. I also tried installing Windows XP SP2 the other night, and got no changes!

DR

to run system restore do the ctrl alt delete and chose new task and enter rstrui.exe as the program to run follow the on screen instructions to restor your computer to a time be for the meda player download this will also remove sp2 so you will need to reinstal it affter

sory to run system restor its Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\system restore

Try creating a new user and log in with that, see if everything looks normal.

Sorry for the long delay - my out of town trip was extended.

 I tried many different starting points for the Restore, and each one came back saying there where no changes (even though I installed the Media Player), thus it couldn't restore back to that point.

What next?

Have u tried a SFC SCAN yet ??
if NO then Goto START>RUN and type  sfc /scannow
u will need ur WinXP CD in order to fix the corrupted windows system files, if found by scan.

SFC Scan showed nothing wrong.

Also, previously someone asked if the CPU was in high usage - It was not.

I'm still without a Start Menu, and the stupid Media Player always comes up full screen when I manage to get my desktop running! Anyone know where the Media Player is getting its startup from?

I'm going to try reloading or repairing Windows XP next.

DR

>> I'm going to try reloading or repairing Windows XP next.

Well a Repair will be enough,,,, coz it will delete the present corrupted system files and registries, and will restore the new and fresh ones :)

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341

Or this site explains a Repair with pics: (Click on How To Run a Repair Install)
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

Sorry again for the long delay - I was called out of town again. I'm actually in town all this week.

I reloaded Windows XP, and all my desktop icons appear when I boot up.

Now, the only thing left to repair is the Media Player that opens up every time I boot up!!!
Where in the Registry can I go, to look for things like this, that boot up from the start???

I sent a nasty-gram to Microsoft and they still haven't responded - as if I expected them to!!!

Thanks,

DKR

On the start menu, hit run.  Type in msconfig.  Go to the startup tab.  There you can see what items are loading on startup, and can disable any you don't want running.  You can go back to this at any time and reenable them.

If you would rather delete permanently, the values are in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

However, I would recommend doing the following to disable unwanted items:

1. Find the program's disable button.  This may be available by right clicking the icon in the taskbar, or by going into the application and looking in the options (e.g. Real Player's Start Center).

2. Use HijackThis to remove entries.  This will create a backup, just in case.  It is downloadable from http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html - make sure you extract the exe file into a directory, e.g. C:\HJT and run from there.  If you do not, it will not create backups.  

With HijackThis, if you think there may be some rogue entries, run a virus check and a spyware check (e.g. Adaware), and if still in doubt, paste your HJT log file into the form at www.hijackthis.de

Actually, even more simply, check this first:

Start > All Programs > Startup

Is it in there?  If so, delete it

rauerd does WMP pops up in Safemode also ??
as u have repaired XP, now the version of WMP is 8.0 or old corrupted 9.0 ??

I managed to get rid of the Media Player. But now half of the time I've got the old problem - No Start Menu or Descktop Icons!!!!

This is driving me crazy.  I did a Windows repair - would it be best to do a Install over the existing Win XP?

By the way, Media Player is back to 8.0!

DKR

It took awhile, but now everything seems to be working OK.

I updated Media Player to version 10.0.
Posted to HijackThis and found a couple problem areas.
I just received from Microsoft SP-2 for WinXP and loaded that.

My PC also has sped up to where it use to be when I first loaded WinXP.

Thanks all for your efforts, and thanks Cheritonit to sticking with me!

DKR

I had the same problem with users losing their desktop and icons. The problem seems to be related to the user’s profile. This is what I did, logged in as a different user desktop and icons appeared. I then copied all the users’ files i.e. (My Documents and Desktop) to a network drive then deleting the profile. The user logged in again and the new profile was fine. Then I copied the files back into the new profile.

I did try that - someone suggested it (see above), but it didn't work for my situation.

I'll keep in it my bag of tricks though in case it ever happens again.

Thanks,

DKR

Run Regedit
Start->Run
regedit

navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WinLogon

Double click on the "Shell" Key
And make sure the data reads
explorer.exe