No icons

All the icons and the Start bar on my computer have disappeered, I am unable to access any program except by bringing up the Task Manager and then using the browse facility. I have been able to access all programs this way except Microsft Money, when I try to get in to that program a label comes up saying 'abnormal termination'

Does anyone have any ideas how I can fix this? I have tried f8, plus turning off and rebooting.

Thanks


Paul

 

Has either of you tried a system restoration?

Welcome aboard, Paul.

 

I am afraid not, can you give me some idea how I go about it

Paul

 

But he said he had no "Start" button...

Johanna

 

Thanks Johanna, glad someones awake!!! and I ve tried f8!!! Anyone any other ideas?

 

Try pressing control and escape at the same time to bring up your start button. Is it possible that you have a "full screen view" applied? Is there an area where your taskbar SHOULD be?

Johanna

 

Paul ...

If you can open Windows Explorer from Task manager, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Restore and double-click on rstrui.exe. System Restore should open for you.

 

This sounds like what happens when you kill or stop "explorer.exe" from running. Is explorer.exe shown as running process? If not run it.

 

how do I get to explorer.exe?, have tried ctrl and esc but no joy, how do I unapply 'full screen view'? I know where Task Bar should be, but it isnt any where,

Getting very frustrated

 

Do you have a WinKey on your keyboard? Press it and your Start button should come back. Winkey and e will bring up Windows Explorer. If you have "Full View" applied, there should be three boxes in the upper right hand corner- minimize, restore and close. I am wondering if you have the "auto hide" applied to the toolbar? If you can bring up your Start button and toolbar, you can right click in the toolbar area and choose properties, and untick it.

Johanna
trying to help

 

I'm beginning to feel like we're beating a dead horse, here.

Paul, if you can't raise a Start button, Ctrl + Alt + Del will open the Task Manager. On any tab except Networking, click on File, then on New Task (Run...) to open a Run window.

• To open Windows Explorer, type in explorer
  
  To open System Restore, type in c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui

HTH.

 

Scuse my iggerance but which one exactly is the WinKey? I only have wall paper come up, no boxes at all. Thank you everyone for all your help, Im getting to the point wheer I feel like rebooting but Ive got so much stuff saved on hard disk< I dont really wnat to do that

 

Most keyboards have two windows keys (except for those on IBM laptops, which have none) ... between the Ctrl and Alt keys to the left of the Spacebar, and between the Alt and Menu keys to the right of the Spacebar. The symbol usually looks like the Win9x Windows icon.