XP - After login only see desktop wallpaper
XP Professional SP2 - when user logs in all they get is their desktop wallpaper, explorer start-bar pops up for a split second, but then disappears. Task manager work. I have tried the following:
1. Restarted in safe mode - the same
2. Logged in as alternative user including Administrator, also in safe mode - the same
3. Removed drive and scanned for viruses/spyware in another machine - none found
4. Tried SFC scan - all system files intact
5. Windows XP Repair Install - made no difference
6. Examined startup file using HiJack This - nothing unusual there. Stripped back to bare startup - no difference.
Anything I can try, before I do complete system re-install?
Thanks in advance
1. Restarted in safe mode - the same
2. Logged in as alternative user including Administrator, also in safe mode - the same
3. Removed drive and scanned for viruses/spyware in another machine - none found
4. Tried SFC scan - all system files intact
5. Windows XP Repair Install - made no difference
6. Examined startup file using HiJack This - nothing unusual there. Stripped back to bare startup - no difference.
Anything I can try, before I do complete system re-install?
Thanks in advance
Hi emagination2006,
This advice from morris1186 is worth trying:
Can you press Control-Alt-Delete and get the task manager up? If so, you can then goto file....NewTask... and type in "explorer.exe". If that can run, then you can try to figure out what is causing it not to open explorer on startup... Try this:
Start ---> Run ---> "Regedit.exe"
Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Expand SOFTWARE
Expand MICROSOFT
Expand Windows NT
Expand CurrentVersion
Expand WinLogon
there will be a Key called "Shell". It should contain the value "Explorer.exe". If not, Make it that.
(You can also do this is safemode if you cant control-alt-delete)
If that doesn't work, did you try this repair process?
"How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341
This advice from morris1186 is worth trying:
Can you press Control-Alt-Delete and get the task manager up? If so, you can then goto file....NewTask... and type in "explorer.exe". If that can run, then you can try to figure out what is causing it not to open explorer on startup... Try this:
Start ---> Run ---> "Regedit.exe"
Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Expand SOFTWARE
Expand MICROSOFT
Expand Windows NT
Expand CurrentVersion
Expand WinLogon
there will be a Key called "Shell". It should contain the value "Explorer.exe". If not, Make it that.
(You can also do this is safemode if you cant control-alt-delete)
If that doesn't work, did you try this repair process?
"How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341
ASKER
I can run task manager and run most applications without problem. Checked the Shell entry in the registry and looks ok.
If I try run 'explorer' manually from the task manager, the bar pops up for a second and then disappears again. I can't figure out what's crashing it.
I have also tried a repair re-install from the XP CD, but didn't make any difference.
I'm on site at the moment, so think it's gonna be a complete system reformat !!!
If I try run 'explorer' manually from the task manager, the bar pops up for a second and then disappears again. I can't figure out what's crashing it.
I have also tried a repair re-install from the XP CD, but didn't make any difference.
I'm on site at the moment, so think it's gonna be a complete system reformat !!!
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Thanks for the quick responses and suggestions lads!
I'm afraid money is going win out over time in this case and need to get the machine back up and running on the network.
Does look like a virus/malware of some sort, but I'm going to go ahead and reformat. I hate letting these things beat me, but need to move onto the next job.
Going to split the points between younghy and briancassin for such quick replies.
Cheers
I'm afraid money is going win out over time in this case and need to get the machine back up and running on the network.
Does look like a virus/malware of some sort, but I'm going to go ahead and reformat. I hate letting these things beat me, but need to move onto the next job.
Going to split the points between younghy and briancassin for such quick replies.
Cheers
E-2006,
Sadly, I agree.
Much more fun to track down these little bugs and pound a stake through their hearts.
Thank you for the points.
Vic
Sadly, I agree.
Much more fun to track down these little bugs and pound a stake through their hearts.
Thank you for the points.
Vic
ASKER