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all i have is my desktop wallpaper and my curser. i can hit alt/control/delete and access netscape thru the task manager to access the web, but that's it. it seems all of my desktop files are still available, because i can see them when i browse for files to run on the task manager, but i don't know why i don't see anything. somebody, please help me. what is GOING ON?!
christine
gardynbean Welcome to Virtual Dr!!
Now, have you an xp cd? If you do, you can do a sfc /scannow and this might fix your problem. Go to the Start Menu, to Run and type sfc /scannow and hit ok or your enter key. Let it do its thing. It won't tell you it did anything but it should put your icons and task bar back.
Do what you did before, but instead of entering "netscape", enter "explorer"
Make sure explorer exisits in the registry location:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Go to start, run, and enter "regedit" follow the tree to the above location and add "Explorer.exe" as the value for the "Shell" key.
christine, Another possible fix is to go to the link below and scroll down to line 195 (right column), and download the "Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar" .vbs file. Save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Double
click the vbs file. You will be prompted when the script is done.
"NOTE: If your anti-virus software warns you of a "malicious" script, this is normal if you have "Script Safe" or similar technology enabled. These scripts are not malicious, but they do make changes to the System Registry".
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Tufenuf
HELLO ALL! thanks for such quick responses - ok, here's what i did, one by one:
PCPAGE4 : went into registry, followed the path you provided, but did not see explorer.exe (is this bad?) within the winlogon directory. i did add the shell key and the explorer value, but when i restarted, it didn't do anything. please let me know if i need to delete what i added.
TUFENUF : downloaded the .vbs file, received all the msg's you mentioned, double-clicked to run, but nothing happened. did i do something wrong?
PHOTOLADY : this is a hand me down computer, so no XP disk - do i have to buy another one? and if i do get one, will it reinstall my entire OS and will i lose all previously stored data? or will the disk know to patch whatever it is that's missing???
your responses are greatly appreciated. i live, breathe, and work on this thing, and now i feel so lost. thanks again for helping this computer fool out!
christine
oh yeah, PCPAGE4, forgot to mention that i attempted to launch explorer thru the task manager, but it's saying it can't find the .exe...
Hi,
Open Taskmanager again and if you can see
sysu.exe
end it with Task Manager
Then delete folder: C:\Programs\ddm
If you get running again download, update and run the following free program
Microsoft Windows Antispyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
Elaine :)
If that's the problem as dunedin suggests, look here:
http://www.tasklist.org/task_sysu_exe_3450.html
For now, try downloading and using an alternative windowing manager like geoshell at
http://www.geoshell.com/
Geoshell has been around since I think 2002. There are others though you can check out at:
http://www.shellfront.org/
After you have a windowing manager you can work with, open iexplore and run an online scanner. Here are some choices of quality companies that have been in the business for more than 15 years:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ (best all around)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
http://skaner.mks.com.pl/skaner.html (best if you know Polish)
Then download spybot (do google) and check for and remove spyware and other harmful software.
Let us know what milcious software was on your machine. Maybe one of use can send you a fresh copy of explorer.exe, or perhaps you might find yourself happy with a third party shell.
OMG, i would LOVE a fresh copy of explorer.exe - if anyone who is reading this can set me up, i would be forever greatful. i'm also going to try the 3rd party shell sites, pcpage4. thank you so much for helping. oh, woops - my email is [email protected]. geez, i hope no one tries to trick me with a super trojan this way... i guess i'll have to learn the hard way.
I will be sending you a copy soon. In theory it should work, unless Microsoft does something silly I do not know about.
When you get the copy, put it in the "c:\windows" folder. Executable should be about 980k (almost a meg.) I will zip it down to 378kb (About 1/3 meg)
You will need to rename the file I gave you. My email account does not allow the sending of executables so I had to fool it.
Unzip the file and put it on a floppy. Then go to taskmanager and run "CMD"
Type:
"CD\" [ENTER]
"A:" [ENTER]
"ren explorer.txt explorer.exe" [ENTER]
"copy explorer.exe c:\windows" [ENTER]
"shutdown -r -t 1 -f" [ENTER]
Windows XP should restart and you should now have explorer, unless you had installed a 3rd party shell. If that, then uninstall the 3rd party shell. Then check the registry key that I posted eariler.
If this is difficult for you, let me know. I could setup something where you download a file to the computer and it installs automatically. But I will need time to put it together.
ok, we're getting there - i can run internet explorer from the task manager, but i still have no icons or taskbar when i attempt to restart with explorer.exe in place, so i had to reinstall geoshell - even with geoshell, i am unable to view any icons on my desktop, but i do get the taskbar... what could be blocking the icons from being visible?
thanks for chugging along with me, jason.
the reason i bring up being able to run internet explorer is because i wasn't able to do that before following your instructions.
gardynbean, This is just a WAG but right click your Desktop, put your cursor over "Arrange Icons By", then checkmark "Show Desktop Icons".
Tufenuf
what is "WAG"?
and i'll give that a try too... when i get home. thanks tufenuf. i hope something good happens soon - not having a fully functional computer at home is seriously stressful. sheeesh!
gardynbean, "what is "WAG"?"
That is computer slang for "Wild A** Guess".
**=ss
Another term uses is "SWAG" which is "Scientific Wild A** Guess"
Keep us posted on how it's going with the problem.
Tufenuf
<tear> NOTHING IS WORKING... i'm getting so frustrated. where the heck is my windows icons/taskbar? why can i not get my desktop back to normal? ...SIGH... maybe i should just reinstall my OS? but if that's the case, i didn't keep the disk that came with my comp - will i have to buy a new one? and if so, how much is a new OS disk anyway? AND is there some kind of option on the disk to just patch whatever it is that's buggin' up my baby? aragh. aragh, indeed.
- thanks, guys. if it weren't for this site, i'd be in an even Greater state of panic.
christine
As long as you have the original COA (certificate of authenticity) with the Windows product key on it, then you can get a replacement CD from Microsoft for somewhere around $25. With a Windows CD, you can do an over-the-top reinstall of Windows, which will almost certainly fix this, without losing your data. I can give you detailed instructions, but you need a CD first.
Hi christine,
Can I just recap here to get this clear.
1 Have you run all the virus/spyware scans?
2 Have you got a Start Menu?
3. The Taskbat has disappeared again?
Did you ever try a System Restore?
Here is a Taskbar repair tool which you can download
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
Download the whole shooting match (under the pic )
Elaine :)
christine
How are things?
I`m definitely thinking this is malware now as in the past two days I have come across another 3 people with this same problem. Still waiting for replies from them but I suggest you run the following if you can still get online.
Online scans
Trojan Scan http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
Panda http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm
Free programs
Microsoft Windows Antispyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...e/default.mspx
a-squared http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/
These are all excellent, and if you cannot get online can you download the two programs with another machine? I`m not sure what you can/cannot do at present.
Elaine :)
it may be a problem if you guys don't have the same service pack installed...Quote:
Originally Posted by pcpage4
dunedin's link for Taskbar repair tool should be
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
hello all! sadly, still having issues with my invisible icons/taskbar. the problem with these onlne virus checkers that you have all so kindly pointed me to is that for any of them to run, i have to launch them with internet explorer. however, my internet explorer does not work. anymore. i will attempt to run it thru my task manager, but windows can't seem to find the .exe. the only way i can access the internet is thru netscape or mozilla. i have tried patching my os with the installation disk, but nothing happened. i just cannot figure out where this dern malware is hiding on my machine that is blocking my explorer stuff from working right. i've gotten to a point where i'm almost willing to format my harddrive and reinstall xp all together. but i'm hoping that with all these helpful solutions you guys are providing, that one will eventually work. please continue to help me with your suggestions - i really appreciate all of them
thanks
<tear>
christine
hey nick - i got an xp disk and attempted to patch my os, but maybe i didn't do it right - can you send your instructions my way? i'll try yours. Email link removed to protect against spambots.. thank you in advance
Hi Christine,
Task Manager seems to be the only thing working?
So open it up at Processes.
With your other machine go to this site and check out what each process is. If you find a nasty stop it running.
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Taskl...s/tasklist.htm
If things improve after that try to run the virus and trojan scans.
Do not reboot or anything disabled will start up again.
Elaine :)
Here's how to do an over-the-top reinstall of Windows:
Boot up with the XP CD in the drive and let Setup run. Go past the "C" and "R" repair options by presssing Enter just as if you're doing a clean install and you'll eventually get an option to "Repair an existing installation". That's the one you want. If it asks about formatting you've gone wrong, so start over.
You'll get to keep your existing apps & settings, but you need to re-install SP2, Windows Updates & any unsigned drivers afterwards. NOTE: Be aware that you'll lose any protection from Blaster / Sasser type worms. Don't go online without a firewall, whether the built in Windows one or 3rd party.
How to perform a re-install of WinXP
Repair XP
Important - there is always an element of risk, so make sure that you have any important data that you cannot afford to lose backed up first.