Hi everyone. I went on my computer today only to find a blank Desktop. It shows no clock, start menu, or anything. I can't even right click. However, I found that by holding ctrl+ alt+ delete it will open Windows Task Manager. When I click on the File tap and click on New Task (Run) By clicking on browese I can see my files. So, its not like my filles are gone, they just don't show up on my desktop. Also I found out by typing iexplore in the New Task box it opens my internet.

I did find some adware on my computer however, this did not not fix anything. I have Norton Antivirus however, it has not been working to well for me. I have had Virues on my computer in the past that the Norton program did not find. I have had to find other ways to remove them. It was a great program for a long time, but I'm not so sure about it any more. So maybe its a virus.

Then I got to thinking maybe it chould be a regustry problem. Anyone know of any good regustry cleaning tools? Or Could it be something else that I don't know about?

Please help if you can.

Hello and welcome to PCHF...

Try this first:

Ctrl/alt/delete-- at the top is "shut down"
try log off (user) then log back on
if that does not work reboot completely.

I just bought this pc yesterday, and within 4 hours my icons and start toolbar disappeared! I did not download anything, so I'm pretty sure it's not a virus. The only thing I can think of is: I was trying to install my yahoo dsl and it didn't work. So I uninstalled it. Then the computer just kept trying to reboot - a blue screen would flash up for about a half a second, and then it would ask me if I wanted to start normally. When I tried to start normally, the same thing happened again - blue screen flash, how do I want to start? So then I chose "start with last known working configuration" and I can't seen any of my desktop except the background picture. All I can do is get to the task manager.
I tried reinstalling my xp with the boot disk, but that didn't help. I was going to try the repair option, but I don't know how.
Help!!! Thanks.

My friend-- where did you buy it... if it's a local computer-shop call them up. I would not even fix a PC that screwed up the 1st boot.... your call,of course. But you might have a faulty harddrive, or other hardware-- if it's that new-- the store should either fix or replace it.

Stand up for your rights.

If by repair option, you mean a repair install---it should work--- provided there's no "bad" hardware like a HD or video-card.

If you mean the recovery console then it gets a little tougher. It is a quasi-DOS application & requires knowledge of it 's commands and what they each do.It's very effective but the commands must be typed exactly right-- including all the spaces,slashes,dots or whatever

If you are gooing to try it "read up" on it first.

The Recovery Console in Windows XP

Thank you so much for replying so fast! It was not the absolute first boot, I think it was the second. But at this point, I've given up and I'm just waiting for them to open so I can storm in there and get loud. Or cry, whichever works!

By the way... when posting a problem here-- if it's your computer-- then make a new topic. Don't post under someone else's even if it is the same problem... that way you are much more likely to be noticed.
Each situation is unique in small ways-- what seems exactly the same-- to you-- might not be at all.