Desktop icons missing, no Start Menu .....

ok, Have a sony Vaio laptop running xp sp2 fully updated.
Now when logging in can't see any icons, so use task manager to end Explorer.exe, then restart explorer.exe and do Active desktop recovery.

Then if you cursor to start meanu/programs there are no entries in program field and all the icons lead to a message that says " null point" i.e no link.

Restrui.exe won't run from run command. so no option for system restore

There is no windows recovery disk as there is only vaio recovery disk i.e no repair options.

The icons on the desktop lead to certain items but " my computer" icon leads nowhere so you can't start the programs from the c:/program option.

If you try to get to the c drive via my documents or anywhere you can't.

Quick launch bar items still work.

all network adaptors have disapeared from " My network connections "- although microsoft error reports seem to be being sent.

I would like to get to fire up acronis so that I can back up the info to external drive for safety but can't find anyway to the EXE file.

Please help any ideas appreciated.

Dan

 

If Acronis is in the default location, try typing "C:\Program Files\Acronis\TrueImage\TrueImage.exe " at the Start > Run command field window.

 

dannyh2006uk--Just guessing
1) Reboot several times.
2) You could have malware. Try the procedure here
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074
3) If no luck (or cannot do), boot into Safe Mode and see what you see. Perhaps you can run System Restore from there? (You can also try to access it from Start|All Programs|Accessories|System Tools, if you get a Start button.)
4) Does that Sony Recovery CD have an I386 folder on it? You could try copying the I386 folder to your Hard Drive and then direct Windows to look there. See about half way down this reference.
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-24.html
In addition to Source Path you may have to change "Service Pack SourcePath ". Then you run sfc /scannow if possible.

 

thanks for ideas.
can't see vaio disk , as there is no way to see "my computer." etc
Safe mode the same no system restore.
Starting to think it is caused by multiple disc errors

 

dannyh2006uk--You do not need to access My Computer to see the contents of that Sony recovery CD. Just putting it into the CD-ROM drive should normally bring it up. But if that is not the case, that is another problem.
Did/Can you try "You could have malware. Try the procedure here
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074 "
Maybe I am reading your post incorrectly. Except for QuickLaunch and TaskManager what can you access?
Can you run chkdsk /r from a command prompt? that is the equivalent of running ScanDisk (now called Error Checking) from My Computer|Properties|Tools.
You have fairly massive problems. Is the laptop under warranty? Can you talk to/email Sony Tech Support?

 

yea have run chkdsk /r from a dell xp disk ( has no repair console, or chkdsk /f command).

found a way to run acronis.
I have two admin accounts on the laptop, if i go to account 2 I can see my computer etc.

but still no network connectors etc.

I'll try looking for malware.

event viewer shows masses of errors on disk

i guess back up is the option and some kind of copy back to new vaio hd