Desktop Icons and Taskbar missing

Hi,

Maybe try booting into safe mode, it may be a virus or something really simple. To do this follow these instructions:

2. Click Start and then click Shut Down.

3. In the drop-down list of the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.

4. As your computer restarts but before Windows launches, press F8.  
On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press F8 when the boot menu \appears.

5. Use the arrow keys to highlight the appropriate safe mode option, and then press ENTER.

6. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.

Please post back.

Cheers,

Nick

I've tried starting my computer in safe mode and that didn't work. I've also ran multiple virus scans, and they all come up clean. The only way I can get to the programs I want is when I go through Alt Ctrl Delete, and open a program through there. This is becoming quite the inconvenience with finals coming up.

When you do the Ctrl Alt Del select Task Manager the start a new proccess and type in Explorer.exe and see if that gives everything back.

It is possible that you have a Resolution setting  on your display that is higher than it can display correctly. Right click a clear spot on  your desktop, select Properties, then Settings and reduce the Resolution slider to 1024x768, then click Okay and then Yes on the next window.

Hi,

In safe mode it automnaticly goes to 800 x 600. so it cant be the resolution. So i have never come accross this before. But from some research i found this http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/132877.html its a virus called F-Nimda.

Hope this helps,

Nick

The either format or contact Dell tech support thats what they are there for.

Nick

Hi again,

I just thought of another idea, have you tried system repair when booted off the XP cd.

Cheers