Conputer Starts To Blank Desktop

[stepadery]

I’m running XP Pro.
I was organizing several saved files I have had stored for a while to burn them on cd for backup copies. There was one zipped file that had a virus on it, my antivirus program caught it and quarantined it. I thought. Don’t know if the is the problem or not.
When I started my computer several hours later the default logon screen came up (I was not using that before this problem) so I entered my user name and password (I have the administrator account).
Now my computer starts but I do not have any icons on my desktop. I hit (Ctrl,Alt,Delete) keys and the task manager shows up on my desktop. Cannot get access to any programs, no start menu. I have tried starting in safe mode and using “start using last known” and it boot up to the same blank desktop. Could it be a registry problem? Can someone help?

 

[wolluf]

Task Manager has option (under file menu) to run apps. What happens if you try running explorer from there? (or your anti-virus app)?

 

[stepadery]

Wolluf

My antivirus is up to date as of Monday.
I cannot get to any programs when it boots to the blank desktop.
About the only thing I can get to is the C: prompt but I have no idea what commands to type in to do a system restore or repair the registry. Is there not commands for these and somehow to repair system files without damage to original files?

 

[wolluf]

You said you can get task manager by running Ctrl+Alt+Del - task manager has a run option under its file menu. I was suggesting typing explorer or explorer.exe in there to see if it would run explorer - and populate your desktop properly. You could also try this at a c: prompt. (in fact you can run anything from there too).

If you can run regedit, check the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon has an entry Shell with a value Explorer.exe (Shell=Explorer.exe)

 

[stepadery]

Thanks to everyone with the responses!
The virus that I mentioned was the (W32DSS.Trojan). My antivirus program stopped it from opening and I quarantined it.
I posted on a few forums. Got several different suggestions on how to take care of the problem. Sorted through them and tried them in the order of which I thought would do less damage and used it first. This is the order in which I tried:
1. sfc /scannow – Did not help
2. Ctrl+Alt+Del to Task Manager I typed in (explorer.exe) in and it did populate my desktop. However the resolution and color quality was terrible. Color quality was 4 bit and screen resolution was 800x600 and could not adjust either. While I had access to my programs I went on to #3.
3. System Restore – Did not help (Had only one prior day saved restore point) Rebooted after this and went back to the original problem.
4. Was suggested that I do the following, which I did: Run regedit, check the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon has an entry Shell with a value Explorer.exe (Shell=Explorer.exe). The shell value there was for the startup of Norton Antivirus. I then changed the value to Explorer.exe exited out of Regedit rebooted and it did boot up to my desk top with the poor color quality and screen resolution. Maybe that’s where the virus comes in because, it’s my understanding that it adds to or replaces that registry key value with a (openme.exe) value.
5. It’s taking a little longer to boot up now but it seems like all programs are running fine. I still have the color quality/screen resolution problem but I’m thinking about deleting my graphics card drivers and reinstalling them.
Any thoughts?

 

[wolluf]

Reinstall graphics driver is a good idea - if still a problem what about a repair reinstall?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

(leaves files, apps, settings intact - need to reapply M$ patches).

Are you sure the virus has been completely removed (and is the only one)? What sort of damage does it do? (ok, found it W32.DSS, doesn't look like it does much damage)

 

[stepadery]

Ran a complete virus system scan. It came up empty. Guess I'll reinstall graphics driver later today.
May I'll try boot.vis from microsoft to try to improve boot time.