one user having difficulty logging on

We have two user accounts on this computer - I have no problems logging on to mine, but the other account isn't as consistent: over the last couple of days, when Gary tries to log onto his, all that comes up sometimes is the photo that normally shows up in the background on his desktop. No icons, no taskbar, no mouse cursor. We can use ctrl-alt-del to log him off, and I'm subsequently able to log onto my own account without any trouble. When we then try to log back on to his account, more often than not it works the next time, except that his Quick Launch toolbar is always gone. No problem getting it back, but I have to do this manually each time after a failed log-in.
No new software has been installed since this started happening, and all scans come up clean (avg, ewido, spybot s&d, ad-aware). Any ideas or suggestions about what might be going on?
Thanks!

 

Have you tried clearing the cache before logging in with the other account?

 

Create a new user Account for Gary (use a different name).

Then follow the instructions here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

Logon as the new user.

Does the problem repeat?