desktop disappeared!

[nia.123]

I have an inspiron 1501 dell laptop. norton anti virus. and have tried to use system restore, it didn't work.

I logged on this morning and my taskbar, start button and desktop icons have disappeared. I can use task manager to get on the internet but that's about it =/

any help?!! please?!

[=OTS=G-Man]

If you try to run explorer.exe from task manager, does the desktop load?

[chrisbrunke]

i just had to deal with this exact problem!!

it's a few steps, but it works great:

step #1: go into your windows folder (c:\windows) and find 'explorer.exe' file.
it should be a picture of a computer. (you'll also see a file beside it called explorer, but that will lead you into my computer).

step #2: once you've located the explorer.exe file, right click, copy, and paste it in the same place. a new file will appear called 'copy of explorer.exe'

step #3: rename the new file yourname.exe (ex: chris.exe)

step #4: click on your start menu, and go to 'run'. type regedit and press ENTER.

step #5: there will be 5 or 6 folders. look for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and double click.
then look for SOFTWARE, double click, then MICROSOFT, and double click. then WINDOWS NT, then CURRENTVERSION, then WINLOGON.

step #6: once inside the 'WINLOGON' directory, look for a file called "shell", and double click it.

step #7: rename the value data to read yourname.exe (or in my case... chris.exe).

step #8: restart your computer, and enjoy. :)

let me know how you make out.

(keep in mind, you dont have to name that file after yourself... you can call it whatever you want.)

[chrisbrunke]

if that doesn't work, you may have to copy the 'explorer.exe' file from a working comp with the same operating system, or you will have to reinstall windows.

alot of trojans will attack that file... for whatever reason... you may have had a recent infection, and your anti virus removed the infection... but not before it damaged the explorer.exe file.