Win XP desktop comes up black w/ only mouse pointer---nothing else???

[redgtxdi]

So, as every friend/family member I know of seems to be having problems lately, here's a new one for me........

XP goes thru its regular boot process, but when desktop comes up, it's just black w/ a mouse pointer and nothing else. No icons, no start, no taskbar......nothing!!!

Ctrl/Alt/Del does nothing either, but mouse pointer can be moved all over.

Tried safe mode and "safe mode" shows up in all 4 corners w/ XP version up top, but nothing else. Ctrl/Alt/Del doesn't do anything in safe mode either.

Lastly........tried a "Repair" (not "R", but 2nd prompt "Repair") w/ XP disk but same exact result.

I've googled but not finding much matching *exactly* this prob. I'm confuzzled.

??? (TIA)

 

[redgtxdi]

OK, after more in-depth googling, this appears to be the problem.........

2 different registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution.options\explorer.exe

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution.options\iexplorer.exe

According to these sites......

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Blank-desktop-no-explorer-after-XP-repair-t84702.html

http://forums.techguy.org/archive-windows-nt-2000-xp/370715-explorer-exe-wont-load-after.html

***HOWEVER*** like at the bottom of the "geekstogo" link, I can't get into "regedit". I also can't figure out a way to get there via the Recovery Console so I'm stuck.

 

[RebateMonger]

You can get into the Registry to attaching the disk to a working PC. Regedit has the ability to load and edit Hives other than the one being used by the working PC. Don't forget to Unload the "foreign" Hive before exiting Regedit.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/System_Utilities/Q_23192529.html

Or you can use something like BART to boot from and then use Regedit in BART.
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/peboot.htm

 

[redgtxdi]

Well, I got Bart figured out. D/L'd it, burned it, loaded it onto infected PC and got into regedit and loaded new hive (named it like Bart suggests)

***BUT***

neither explorer.exe or iexplorer.exe are located under that key on this machine.

(crying emoticon here)

I thought that was the solution for sure, but now I'm stuck again!!!

If that ain't the solution what the heck is???

 

[RebateMonger]

By the way, there IS no legitimate program called "Iexplorer.exe" in Windows. It's either "Explorer.exe" or "Iexplore.exe".

 

[redgtxdi]

Indeed...........though at this point, that's the least of my worries.




I've been reading 'til my eyes bleed. Found another link that says it might be part of vundoo virus, but symptoms don't match exactly. I can't run AVG from Bart's so I dunno what else to do.

 

[C1]

Right click on the desktop, highlight & pull down the "Arrange Icons By" menu & make sure "Show Desktop Icons" is checked.

 

[RebateMonger]

You didn't indicate at first that you suspected a malware infection, although it was sorta' apparent by the Registry editing links. If you don't have a lot of experience with this stuff, or even if you do, it can be very time-consuming and frustrating.

Frankly, the biggest favor you could do for your friend would be to help them copy important data elsewhere, and have them re-install Windows and their applications afresh. Then show them how to make an image backup of their PC so they can restore it themselves next time without having to re-install everything.

Otherwise, I'd start with offline (boot CD) scans of the computer. Avira makes an offline scanner, as does FSecure. The one time I used the Avira offline scanner, it didn't FIX anything, but in a few seconds it showed me the name and type of probably infection, which I was lucky enough to de-tooth by deleting a couple of files from BART.

Often, you won't be that lucky. I've "cleaned" quite a few computers and they are getting harder and harder to do. It's also fairly common to end up with a "cleaned" computer that, unfortunately, no longer boots.

 

[redgtxdi]

Right click on the desktop, highlight & pull down the "Arrange Icons By" menu & make sure "Show Desktop Icons" is checked.

And I should say, if I didn't before, that *absolutely nothing* can be done from the desktop. The mouse pointer moves around the screen, but no right-click, no start button (not even via keyboard), no Ctrl/Alt/Del......NOTHING. It is quite frustrating to have literally zero options. Literally feels like XP Twilight Zone.


Thanks Rebate......I'll try the offline scan & see what it turns up. And, yes, I wholeheartedly agree that this person needs to make sure they're using backups all the time. They actually do use an external drive (WD Mybook) but ya know the only crap they use it for?......movies & music. (sheesh!)

In this case, the guy made a machining toolpath program in CadCam and if nothing I try this morning works, he is literally HOSED!!! Hopefully this will teach him. (Of course being that I'm sure his movies & music are half-bought at best, whatever crap he's getting on his computers is probably well-deserved, eh?)

(exhausting night....I stayed up waaaaay too friggin' late with this crap)

 

[Binky]

Longshot here, but are you 100% sure that the keyboard is recognized by the semi-booted PC? Maybe it's not getting the ctrl-alt-delete command. Try another keyboard. Try checking the bios setting for USB keyboard control (OS/Bios).

If you can get task manager, you can do just about anything (including repairing or replacing the shell).

 

[corkyg]

During the initial boot cycle, have you tried F8 to get into SAFE mode?

 

[RebateMonger]

In this case, the guy made a machining toolpath program in CadCam and if nothing I try this morning works, he is literally HOSED!!! Hopefully this will teach him. (Of course being that I'm sure his movies & music are half-bought at best, whatever crap he's getting on his computers is probably well-deserved, eh?)

I don't uonderstand. The DATA (the toolpath) is likely just fine. You can copy that to a USB drive using BART or can attach the drive to another PC.

The only issue here is maybe having to re-install Windows and the application programs that are installed.

 

[redgtxdi]

That's ultimately where I'm at. I even brought it to work today, but he has a nice vid card in there & it's got double DVI & here at work it's VGA all day & not even a dongle.

I burned him the Avira bootable AV ISO and will let him play with that, but obviously, he should be able to copy the CadCam file (he "says" it "should be" the only thing on his desktop) to a fob or disk to get him outta' trouble, then we'll diskill & format this thing & be done.

I'd really, really, really love to know what this is as more than one website showed this problem but as per my original links.......as it pertains to the *absolutely* blank desktop......nobody ever seems to have found out what it was.

Hmmmmmmmm!

 

[RebateMonger]

Did you go through this thread:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com.../thread/193b7008-ce4b-4d03-acc3-b8d7ffe610d5/

That thread indicates it may be a login issue. The thread starts with a Vista problem, but some of the comments are likely applicable to XP as well.

Is there a reason you suspect malware? That isn't necessarily the cause of this problem.