No Desktop Icons or Taskbar at Start Up

[bj]

I am desperate newbie that needs help. Having searched MS support and user forums, I cannot find any knowledge base or "asked-and-answered" solutions to my problem.

Full Disclosure: I am not a techie -- I use my PC for personal and business -- primarily MS Office and Internet. O/S -- Windows 2000 Professional (not connected to network); Cable Modem; No peripherals excluding printer and speakers.

Problem: Upon start-up/re-boot, NO desktop icons or taskbar (only wallpaper). I have to access files\programs through Task Manager\File\New Task (Run). The only way I've found to restore the *normal* display is to open Windows Explorer, which doesn't launch Windows Explorer but instead restores desktop icons/taskbar. Also, I cannot download MS updates\patches or reload Windows 2000 Professional as an error message reads: "c:\winnt\system32\tftp.exe" is in use\currently running.

Initial Problem Identification: Tried to Cut\Paste plain text between two documents in Word. Paste did not work. Exited documents\Word and rebooted to get rid of hang up. Upon reboot, no desktop (only wallpaper).

Concurrent Problems Identified To Date: Opening Word document generates 3 error messages (in order, but it did not give the full file extentions): (1) "This document could not be registered. It will not be possible to create links from other documents to this document." (2) Same text as error message above with the following attached: "C:\Program Files\...\PDFMaker.dot" (3) Same text as error message in (1) and (2) with the following file extention attached: "C:\...\STARTUP\PDFMaker.dot".
Word is very buggy and doesn't respond normally to either keyboard or mouse commands (Highlighting; still not able to Cut\Paste [Note: cannot Cut\Paste in others apps as well]) and it has terminated because Word is not responding ("End Program&quot
Also, my CPU usage (under Performance tab in Task Manager) is red lining at 100% with the only IE6 running.

Remedial Action To Date: Booted up in Safe Mode -- No error messages or automatic repairs initiated (naive?). Rebooted and tried to reset to "last known good configuration" (not exactly verbatim) -- No effect. Followed MS Knowledge Base suggestion and tried to Rename shdocvw.dll file in the %SystemRoot% folder to shdocvw.old -- Not sure if I did this correctly. Is the %SystemRoot% file the same as the System32 folder? Steps: New Task >> cmd.exe >> C:\ >> cd %systemroot% >> C:\winnt >> ren shdocvw.dll shdocvw.old = error message "the system cannot find the file specified". Went to C:\winnt\system32\ and Renamed the shdocvw.dll file using right mouse button and drop down menu ("Rename" function). Net effect -- No change.

Observations: explorer.exe is running (Processes tab). Believed to have been recipient of virus attack, but, in all honesty, having tried to correct the problem from a position of ignorance may have made problem worse. Start up routine not reading drivers? Nvidia driver? Adobe issues? Power supply? Worm? All are pure speculation as I know relatively nothing.

Request: Any and all suggestions from gurus. I am able to navigate PC and follow detailed\complex instructions. I just want my PC to work normally.

Thanking you in advance,

Sincerely,

BJ

[LM]

I would do a repair install of XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;315341

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under Q315341
SUMMARY
This article describes how to perform an in-place upgrade, or reinstallation, of Windows XP. This is also named a repair installation.

When you perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, you reinstall Windows to the same folder. You may want to do this if you need to repair your installation of Windows XP. This may be necessary for any of the following reasons:
You cannot start Windows XP in Safe Mode. For additional information about how to start your Windows XP-based computer in Safe Mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
315222 A Description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP

The problem is caused by a recently installed system update (Windows Update, hotfix, Windows XP service pack, or Microsoft Internet Explorer update), and you cannot solve the problem in any other way.
There is a registry problem that cannot be solved by using other tools, such as System Restore.
You need to apply default (file and registry) permissions to your Windows XP installation.
You need to register Component Object Model (COM) components and Windows File Protection (WFP) files.
You need Windows Setup to enumerate Plug and Play devices again, including the hardware abstraction layer (HAL).
To reinstall Windows XP, use the appropriate method in the "More Information" section of this article.
MORE INFORMATION
Before You Perform an In-Place Upgrade
IMPORTANT:
If your computer came preinstalled with Windows XP, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base before you follow the steps later in this article:
312369 May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling Windows XP

If you perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, all existing restore points are removed and a new System Checkpoint restore point is created after the in-place upgrade is complete. Do not perform an in-place upgrade if you may need to use System Restore to roll your system back to a previous state.For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
301224 System Restore 'Restore Points' Are Missing or Deleted

Backup copies of your registry files (in the %systemroot%\Repair folder) are also replaced after the in-place upgrade is complete. The registry files in the Repair folder are either from the first time you started Windows XP or the last time you used the Backup utility to backup your System State. Copy these registry backups to another location before you perform an in-place upgrade if you may need to use them after the in-place upgrade is complete.
Do not perform a repair or in-place upgrade to repair a component or program that is not currently installed. If you can, use Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or reinstall the component or program instead of Windows.
If your computer requires a non-Microsoft mass storage device driver or HAL, make sure that you have a copy of the necessary files on a floppy disk before you perform a repair or in-place upgrade.
Do not use a repair or in-place upgrade to try to resolve a problem with a user account, password, or local profile. To determine if the problem is related to a user account, password, or local profile, create another user account (if you can) and log on to that account to see if the problem is resolved.
Do not use a repair or in-place upgrade to resolve a problem with third-party applications, files or registry entries.
Do not use a repair or in-place upgrade if you suspect disk problems.
Do not use a repair or in-place upgrade if you suspect a problem with a non-Microsoft device and the latest device drivers are currently installed for the device.
Method 1: Reinstall Windows XP from Within Windows XP
To reinstall Windows XP from within Windows XP, follow these steps:
Start your computer.
Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP page that appears, click Install Windows XP.
On the Welcome to Windows Setup page, click Upgrade (Recommended) in the Installation Type box (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
On the License Agreement page, click I accept this agreement, and then click Next.
On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product key in the appropriate Product key boxes, and then click Next.
On the Get Updated Setup Files page, select the option that you want, and then click Next.
Follow the instructions on the remaining pages of the Windows XP Setup Wizard to reinstall Windows XP.
Method 2: Reinstall Windows XP by Starting Your Computer from the Windows XP CD
To reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP CD, follow these steps:
Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

NOTE: Your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For more information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, see your computer's documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen that appears: This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.


On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
Follow the instructions on the remaining screens to reinstall Windows XP. After you repair Windows XP, you may be required to reactivate your copy of Windows XP.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
310064 HOW TO: Troubleshoot Windows XP Setup Problems When You Upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Me

After You Perform an In-Place Upgrade
After you perform an in-place upgrade or repair installation, you must reinstall all updates to Windows. To reinstall Windows updates, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

For additional information about how to troubleshoot specific Windows XP Setup issues, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
312369 You May Lose Data or Program Settings After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows XP

312368 Data Loss May Occur After Reinstalling, Repairing, or Upgrading Windows XP

For additional information about Windows XP Setup, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
286463 Release Notes for Windows XP Setup Contained in the Pro.txt File

306824 Release Notes for Windows XP Setup Contained in the Home.txt File

286647 Windows XP Read1st.txt File Contents

[kamislo]

Did you ever solve this? I got similar problem on Windows2000 after upgrading to SP4. No desktop, no icons. Double-clicking explorere.exe accomplishes nothing. Nor does the MS document regarding shdocvw.dll. In my case by the was %SystemRoot% is c:winnt. I imagine that's also the case on yours.

[dealo]

have you tried(whilst in safe mode)creating a new profile and logging into that. Ive seen before where a profile can be stuffed but others work fine.

Also have you checked for viruses??

[SkiBuni]

We've got the problem also. We use ZenWorks for imaging and the PC's that "started" with the load don't do it. We also use PDFMaker which I see in the first poster's message.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Shayna

[hb9vcj]

Hey, I 've got the same problem on W2k + SP4. When I installed an USB DSL modem driver, reboot it, login, then wallpaper w/o icons and taskbar. I reboot it and login in safemode, no problem. Created a new user then reboot and login as the new user, it worked fine.

Wanted to login again with the regular username, same problem.

No virus found, last definition (Panda Titanium)...

Any other ideas ?

In the meanime I change my OS from W2k to Win ME, it works fine. Very strange...

[blockcipher]

Seems like a corrupt file to me:

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBK/tip5100/rh5156.htm

[jetcobra]

I have Windows XP Home Edition running on a HTPC (Home Theater PC) that I built to use in my audio/video system.

I use a MYHD card to receive high definition signals and have had no problems with this system for over a year.

I recently installed the latest Windows update and either one or two days after that I booted up my system and got only the wallpaper as a background with no icons or start menu. I could not use ctrl-alt-delete to get to anything. I could use the safe mode and I tried to create another user profile, but the system would not boot up normally to even give me a choice of profiles.

I also tried a reinstallation of XP using my CD, but could not even get any installation screen at all. Now when I boot up the system I get no screen, the monitor is dark. I can still get into the safe mode.

I am not an expert Windows person and would like to know how to proceed.

Thanks for any help available.

Ron

[blockcipher]

If you can get into safemode see if you can run

Start > Run > cmd

sfc /scannow

[jetcobra]

I got in safe mode and ran scannow.

This is what I got:

Windows File Protection could not inititate a scan of protected system files.

The specific error code is 0x000006ba [The RPC server is unavailable.]

What next?

Thanks, Ron