Desktop doesn't load in XP Home

[Packer]

I have a home network with a combination of wired/wireless networking from a common cable modem.

One computer, running XP home, has a problem and won't load the desktop in any account.

After boot the accounts list is displayed but clicking on your choice of account brings up the background image but nothing more. I can open some programmes by using Task Manager but can't find a way to get IE open to allow an online scan. I'm running Norton Intrenet Security but suspect that my son, (believed to be the dowload king of the street), has clicked to run something without scanning it first or else it is a new virus that Symantec hasn't covered yet, unlikely as that may be.

I've tried to run Norton from the Task Manager but get the error message that some files are corrupt.

I have tried to boot in safe mode but that doesn't open properly either.

I have the system disk but that only wants to clean install.

Any suggestions?

 

[centaur]

If you have an XP OS disk it has a system repair function included, just boot from it and select it.

Then get rid of Norton, download and install AVG free and also something like Spybot S&D and Zonealarm firewall....all free....and before doing anything else on the net !

 

[Fanum]

Try booting into safe mode first......reboot and keep hitting f8 as it loads.

It should work.....it just boots into a basic level of windows without all the other start up progs, though if the files that are corrupted belong to explorer, it may not

If it does, go to Start>all progs>accessories>system tools>system restore and select a date that you remember it working properly at to restore to.

If that works, bin Norton, get Avast or AVG free version (Norton is the biggest pile of insidious crap ever) then set log in to windows as administrator and set up a limited account for your son that does not include admin privileges so it's less likely to happen again .

If you can't get into safe mode, reboooting from the windows install disk and doing a repair may be your only easy option

 

[Kenny]

Never used desktop..but I don't suppose you have selected it in windows firewall have you? ( probably talking through my arse but you never know )

 

[bigchris]

I have a home network with a combination of wired/wireless networking from a common cable modem.

One computer, running XP home, has a problem and won't load the desktop in any account.

After boot the accounts list is displayed but clicking on your choice of account brings up the background image but nothing more. I can open some programmes by using Task Manager but can't find a way to get IE open to allow an online scan. I'm running Norton Intrenet Security but suspect that my son, (believed to be the dowload king of the street), has clicked to run something without scanning it first or else it is a new virus that Symantec hasn't covered yet, unlikely as that may be.

I've tried to run Norton from the Task Manager but get the error message that some files are corrupt.

I have tried to boot in safe mode but that doesn't open properly either.

I have the system disk but that only wants to clean install.

Any suggestions?

Boot up machine as normal. When you get to selet username hit ctrl alt del twice, it brings up the more normal login screen.

Type 'administrator' for usernames, and if you've set a password for it, put it in. else leave blank and hit return.

This should log you in as the 'proper' admin, even if your user account is admin status.

Once in (assuming you can) read the following and do what is appropriate (note use this as a last resort. Much preferable to use the repair facility on the windows CD):-

System File Checker (sfc)Scans and verifies the versions of all protected system files after you restart your computer.

Syntax
sfc [/scannow] [/scanonce] [/scanboot] [/revert] [/purgecache] [/cachesize=x]

Parameters
/scannow
Scans all protected system files immediately.
/scanonce
Scans all protected system files once.
/scanboot
Scans all protected system files every time the computer is restarted.
/revert
Returns the scan to its default operation.
/purgecache
Purges the Windows File Protection file cache and scans all protected system files immediately.
/cachesize=x
Sets the size, in MB, of the Windows File Protection file cache.
/?
Displays help at the command prompt.

Remarks
You must be logged on as a member of the Administrators group to run sfc.
If sfc discovers that a protected file has been overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the %systemroot%\system32\dllcache folder, and then replaces the incorrect file.
If the %systemroot%\system32\dllcache folder becomes corrupt or unusable, use sfc /scannow, sfc /scanonce, or sfc /scanboot to repair the contents of the Dllcache directory.

 

[bigchris]

Also if this doesnt help, you could always log in as the administrator, delete your account, and reset up. Just make sure you copy any information you wish to keep to somewhere outside of 'my documents'!