no desktop

I have HP Pavilion, Celeron, 256 RAM, using XP Pro. No problems whatever. I went out of town for 4 days. System completely disconnected (plug out of wall), also telephone jack. On first start up, I got message that WIN had to find and restore a registry file, which it claimed to do successfully. However, the bootup stopped with a blank screen, i.e., only the wallpaper, no icons, no task bar. Using Ctrl-Alt-Del to access Task Mgr, I have run many apps and all seems well. I can even access the net. So, how do i get my desktop back?
Don't know if it is related, but a FTTP footprint was found on my computer about 2 weeks ago, but I have downloaded the MS fix, found the folder, deleted it. It was empty BTW. Complete disc scan (Norton) OK and no known probs from that attempted attack.
Thanks in advance.

 

Reboot hit F8 to get into Safe Mode?

Same problem? If normal then reboot back to full.

Fixed now?

Get back to us on results.

Mike

 

No! Sorry Pete!

Don't jump on system restore too quickly or you may lose some recent changes.

Do the system restore only if my above message and the below additional instructions do not work!

If my above safe mode proceedure does not work do the following.

Control/Alt/Delete - When Task Manager opens, select the File -New Task (Run). In the Create New Task box , type "Explorer" (no quotes) and click OK. Explorer should restart and all should be back to normal.

let us know!

mike

 

Tried F8--would not boot up in safe mode.
Tried Explore from Task Mgr. Nothing happened.
Tried system restore as suggested. Nothing happened.
Help!

 

Correction. Tried Explorer. Nothing happened.

 

If you begin to tap the F8 key continually, immediately after the memory counts off it will go into safe mode.

I have found it is sometimes hard to F8 to safe mode on a restart but will always work from a full power down.

But another question! When you run task manager is "Explorer" in the list of tasks.

If not then can you search for it. Does it exist on the OS drive?

Also try this. rt click on the desktop and choose a new theme any new theme.

Mike

 

I think that I started pressing F8 too late. THe HP logo is splashed on the screen during start up and hides a number of the start up messages, so I just started pressing and sure enough I could start in safe mode. Everything was fine except that after the system finished booting, there was nothing in the center. The screen was entirely black except for "safe mode" in the usual four corners. I logged out and rebooted to full, but no change. I rebooted in safe mode and this time chose "start up in last known successful configuration" or whatever that choice says. Still no desktop.
Rt clicking gives no choices--gets no response at all.
I'm not sure about Explorer. I can find no way to search using Task Manager.
???

 

Well Task manager should show an entry for Explorer! Does it not!

You are down to a reinstall! Overlay repair install. Done properly it will keep all your settings

Boot from the XP CD.

When it "first" stops and asks to repair or install "CHOOSE INSTALL" do not use the "first" repair option.

Then you will proceed a few steps and at some point it will find a Windows or Winnt folder and ask if you want a new install or to repair this folder. CHOOSE THIS REPAIR!

Remember "do not choose the first offer to repair" but choose the second offer after it anounces it found a previous windows on the HD.

If it don't find a previous install the you will have 2 choices.
1. abort here and continue to find another way to fix.
2. backup and do a clean install.

If it does a repair and all is back to normal you will have lost all service packs and updates.

If you do get back to normal do not immediately do the updates. Let me know and I will give you the proper steps to ensure that this goes smoothly.

Mike

 

WHew! Thanks. Back to normal. Everything seems exactly as before. Comments:
I never got the option to repair anything. I chose install and upgrade initially and kept waiting for Win to tell me they found a previous install, but it started to install before I had any chance to make any other choices. I tried to abort (Ctrl-Alt-Del and pressing Esc several times), but na-da, so I just let it finish the job. Looks like a nice job. All my icons were in the same place on the desktop, etc.
So, are the updates there or not?
Any ideas about cause of this?
Thanks again, Mike.

 

Mike--
You were going to help me reinstall the updates so that it would go smoothly. Did you forget me?
Waiting anxiously.
Also if you have any thoughts about what happened would appreciate it.
Thanks again.

 

Ok here goes

The logic here is to get everything out of the way.

Problems usually occur because the download is very large, over a hundred megs. While doing and online active download and install if something happens at the wrong time. UH oh!

So download the whole 128 meg sp1 here Download do not do the express):

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/sp1lang.asp

Then read my entry in this thread this is pertaining to Win2k SP4 but all the same applies:

http://windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19476&highlight=sp4

Unpluging everything, cleaning temps, virus and spy/adware is of imperitive.

Here are a few tools and cleanups to do and download install and use right before disconnecting and installing SP1.
_____________________________________________

Configure CleanMgr to max settings
Go to Start-Run and type

cleanmgr /sageset:1
The above need only be ran once (these settings will be remembered as the default until another sageset is ran).

It will present a menu select all except compress, then

Go to Start-Run and type

cleanmgr /sagerun:1
As long as /sageset above has been ran on this computer from now on the /sagerun is the only thing that needs to run.
_____________________________________________

Spyware and adware removal

SpyBot http://security.kolla.de/index.php?lang=en&page=download
Run this twice delete all it finds, "ALWAYS" run this before AdAware.
Leave all it wants to leave after the second run.
_____________________________________________

Registry and System cleaners

RegCleaner <http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml>
Look in first 2 cols for programs you thought you uninstalled or removed, these are the dregs left by the uninstaller. Also tag and remove any that you are POSITIVE are not supposed to be on your computer. After removing these go to the top Tools-Registry Cleanup-Do them all. Delete all it finds.

EasyClean1.7 <http://gswi.com/downloads.htm>
Run only unnecessary files and registry clean delete all it finds. If you have ME or XP in the "Unnessesary Files" type the word HELP in the skip box. Do not do Duplicate files!

RegScrubXP

http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloadget.php?id=2048&file=2&evp=50bd078f62c11086d8d7693510554b73

NOTE: W2K and XP only
Select RegScrub finds problems and remove all it finds.
_____________________________________________

Startup control (use this to disable all startups until sp4 is installed)
<http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml>

This gives simple and full control of what starts at boot up. After install there will be a Startup icon in control panel. Why this over Msconfig? Msconfig only allows unchecking/disabling of items. Startup Control panel allows deleting items or moving from startup to run as a service etc.
_____________________________________________

Finally after install hook all back up, and now get all Win update critical updates.

Wish you had not asked now huh! Although these cleanups here are for prep for sp1 they are worth the effort on their own, for the speed and stability they provide.

So this should keep you out of trouble for a while, good luck!

mike

 

Thanks Pete!

I knew that but guess I forgot so I will edit it. All the other proceedures still apply except the SP number.

Thanks again Pete!

mike

 

Hmmm

Well he never said anything about mblaster specifically.

The tftp is used by many legit programs including the Firmware update for Linksys routers.

Mike

 

So does this mean you think my problems were due to a virus? I posted an inquiry about TFP220 on 8/9/03 and its footprint was found on my machine and removed. However, the folder was empty. I did a complete disk scan with NAV (updated as of that time) and it was negative. Then, I installed the MS patch. Was the desktop thing a late result of TFP220 or is there a new virus?
I did everything Mike suggested, scrubbing clean, downloading all of the updates, etc., and everything has been working fine for over a week now. Should I sit tight and if no additional probs feel comfortable. I don't want to spread any viruses.
So what is the consensus? If I format the HD and do a clean install, does that absolutely remove all traces of any and all viruses?
Thanks to all.

 

I say if it is running right now leave it alone!

Lot of work to reinstall if no appearent problem.

Mike

 

Final (I hope) report on this matter. It is now 14 days since I last posted. There have been no further problems and all seems to work well. I did NOT do a full reinstall from scratch, just the clean up and reinstall over the original as instructed by Mike. Thanks to all.