No icons, start menu or system tray

Question

Inspiron 5100 running XP. PC will boot up and get throgh 'Enter User Password'.  After that, the desktop wall paper comes up and that's all.  Nothing else!  I can get to and run applications through task manager... indication that system is basically OK?  Any ideas?  Problem occured after I did a system restore (because I had lost my network connection).

B_Coppins · Answer

When the computer boots, get task manager up, click on processes tab, look for explorer.exe if you see this, end it, hopefully it will restart itself, if you dont see any change see if it's on the list then go to File > New Task > explorer.exe

this would be the only way to fix this short of reinstalling Windows, that i can think of

claydaw · Answer

Thanks for the hint. Didn't fix problem, but you've provided another clue to what's going on!  As you suggested, went to Task Manager/Processes. Explorer was not running.  Started as new task (c:\windows\explorer.exe).  When 'OK' pressed system tray 'flashed' once at bottom of screen.  So something wrong with explorer?

B_Coppins · Answer

The screensaver starts, then when you move the mouse and get rid of the screensaver it works fine?

B_Coppins · Answer

Quite possible that there is something wrong with explorer, see if you can Repair Windows via Windows CD

claydaw · Answer

And one other thing.... after a few minutes screen saver starts and runs normally!

claydaw · Answer

The screensaver starts, I move the mouse. Screensaver 'stops' and I'm back to the desk top with no icons or system tray.

B_Coppins · Answer

Oh, okay, I thought you meant it allowed you to see all the other stuff again. Try to REPAIR Windows, put the Windows CD in, boot off of it, and when it asks what to do, say R for Repair.

claydaw · Answer

I did repair... went through entire process, but when rebooted there was no change i behavior.  Then went thre reinstall route. No luck there either.  Did I mention that EVERY diagnostic rest passed?

jec4312 · Answer

would you be able to download a program called CCleaner and get it on the pc that doesn't work? If this were possible running it may work miracles, it's saved me before now.
Are you able to get on to safe mode?

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