Windows ME boots to desktop - no start button or icons...

[Jinxerama]

Any ideas out there?? I have a WindowsME computer that boots to the desktop with no errors, but nothing displays on the desktop but the wallpaper. No icons and no start menu. Windows button or ctrl/esc does not pop up a start menu either. I restarted computer and hit DEL key until startup menu appeared and made sure that the CD-ROM was listed as the first option at boot up. I then loaded a known working ME restore CD and it just boots right past it to the blank desktop. I can get into SAFEMODE but don't know what to do when I get there? Possible downloaded virus, I don't know as someone else was using the machine when problems started to occur and they were downloading from KAzaa.

 

[wolluf]

if you've got a possible virus, then i'd boot from rescue floppy disk set (to remove the virus without booting the operating system) - Trend certainly have one you can download for free if you haven't got one.

 

[xkjdhdg]

Boot to Safe mode and run scandisk for errors. I am having the same problem have not figured it out. It is not a VIRUS. I would guess you have loaded something that has changed your startup settings. Once you run scandisk reboot.
From the boot menu select step by step. Once you get your machine run the system restore.

 

[mainegeek]

Right click on desktop and select properties,web
and uncheck "View my active desktop as a Webpage"
click apply, click ok.

 

[tamaraw]

I have the same problem as the creator of this thread. I have absolutely nothing. Even when I do a ctl alt del I see nothing...and i know at least explorer.exe should be there. My mouse buttons don't do anything...and i don't have a task bar. You can check out the thread I created with this similiar problem.

 

[blackcloud14]

I had this problem too. I fixed it by using the floppy startup disc to start up then when the DOS prompt shows up type scanreg_/restore. This will bring up some restore points. Select one that has a date when everything was working then you should be ok. You might want to go into Help at the DOS start up to make sure what I have said is correct.
Good Luck Blackcloud14

 

[Mattb7]

sounds like the Aplore virus I had, but i thought ot only occurred in windows 2k or xp. Look here:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.aplore@mm.html

 

[Mattb7]

Sorry realized that the link i posted doesnt work, but if you go the symantic site and search aplore, you will find it there. It also says that it affects pretty much all windows os.

 

[Mav3rick]

Yea I have pretty much the same problem.

 

[raen]

If the active desktop dont work(changing the web option), maybe is a virus or one problem that i just found the solution(for resolving one friend of mine problem) that is erase the "shelliconcache" that is hidden in the windows directory or something (make a search), i dont know if resolves because my friend did the problem with he´s bare hands and was resolved with active desktop (he mistaken and cliked with the mouse there, those things that appen often in windows...)

the problem (if is this problem...) is that shelliconcache is corrupted. Dont worry the file will be restored by windows. See here were i found this solution:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Q_20366347.html

(put it rigth this way, this site is key sensitife...)

PS: hope I helped, you are lucky and so i´m I because of my friend problem, now I know how the resolve the problem, and in various ways