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snowcraig

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No desktop icons

Thanks in advance!

I started my computer today, and no desktop icons came up.  Not even the start menu button.  My wallpaper is showing, but when I right - click, nothing happens.  CTRL+ALT+DEL works, which enabled me to start firefox.  However, I couldn't find system restore or any useful program to try to deal with the problem.  It almost seems like these programs are gone.  I am suspicious that this may be a virus, since I just downloaded a file from an unknown source, which sent my norton antivirus into motion.  However, Norton said it deleted the file.

Am I completely screwed here?  I hope to be able to resolve this without having to completely reload windows and lose all my data.

Thanks!!!
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chuckyh
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do a ctrl alt del and see if you can launch explorer.
does that bring your desktop and icons back?
Avatar of SheharyaarSaahil
from task manager, click on New Task and write down explorer.exe and hit enter
it should bring the desktop and taskbar back
also, run a virus scan from safemode and check if it can find anything?
and you can try launching system restore from safemode too....
same suggestion as "SheharyaarSaahil" , go into Safe Mode , added information on how to go into Safe Mode (Keep pressing F8 button without stopping during startup) ............. If you able to go into Safe Mode, then you can backup those important data then run the "System Restore"
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snowcraig

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The same thing happens when I go into safe mode.  And I can't run explorer from the task manager.  Nothing happens when I try to run it.  Not looking good.
can you try safemode with command prompt option?
was your system restore turned on?
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lauchangkwang
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Open Task Manager and look for any instances of explorer.exe. Terminate them. Now run explorer.exe once more.

Chris B
No instances of Explorer open.