explorer doesn't show up when window xp boots

[sangeeth]

I have windows XP OS with SP2.

After a normal boot up and login window, I get a blank desktop with only my background image.
I pressed Alt+Ctrl+Del and added a new task "explorer" as a new process.
Only then the taskbar and desktop icons shows up

Can anyone figure out the problem?
Please help .
I don't want to reinstall OS.

[bartonc]

I have windows XP OS with SP2.

After a normal boot up and login window, I get a blank desktop with only my background image.
I pressed Alt+Ctrl+Del and added a new task "explorer" as a new process.
Only then the taskbar and desktop icons shows up

Can anyone figure out the problem?
Please help .
I don't want to reinstall OS.

Have you been fooling around in Administrative Tools: Services. Perhaps the service was turned off accidentally.

[sangeeth]

Have you been fooling around in Administrative Tools: Services. Perhaps the service was turned off accidentally.

Yes, I did experiment and stop some services.
Can you help me which service to start again so I can log on normally.

[bartonc]

Yes, I did experiment and stop some services.
Can you help me which service to start again so I can log on normally.

I really like this guy's list of services with explanations.

I looked in my system and didn't find the explorer service starter yet, but I'll keep looking.

[sangeeth]

I really like this guy's list of services with explanations.

I looked in my system and didn't find the explorer service starter yet, but I'll keep looking.

thanks bartonc ..
It's people like you keep me encouraged to post

[bartonc]

thanks bartonc ..
It's people like you keep me encouraged to post

You are welcome. Did you get it fixed?

[Chrisjc]

I really like this guy's list of services with explanations.

I looked in my system and didn't find the explorer service starter yet, but I'll keep looking.

That is a rather helpful link =)

alot of people ask about this...

[bartonc]

That is a rather helpful link =)

alot of people ask about this...

Glad to be of service. It's nice to be appreciated; thank you for the ack.

[sangeeth]

Glad to be of service. It's nice to be appreciated; thank you for the ack.

The link was useful in some other ways but my primary problem is not fixed.

My taskbar and shortcut icons don't show up on Windows start.
Can u dig further.. please

[tomtscotland]

Hey everyone – I believe I’ve found a solution for this one.

I had similar problems to those described. System restore, repair install doesn’t work so some googling provided the following solution.

- CTRL-Alt-Del to bring up Task Manager.
- Click File | New Task(run).
- Type regedit in the Run box and click OK.
- Browse to the following registry key:

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

Under this key there will be subkey named explorer.exe and possibly iexplorer.exe. These should not be listed under the Image File Execution.Options key and should be deleted.
To delete you will probably need to change permissions – just right click to get to permissions – then “allow all”
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Restart the computer.

The lesson to be learned here is that you really need to use backup periodically so that all system files are backed up on a SEPARATE hard disc.

Hope this helps someone.

Tom Tennant

[tomtscotland]

Couple of extra points -

- I've no idea how this problem arose - no new software had been added so I'm mystified. Anyone any ideas as to source of problem?
- I had xp installed on a seperate drive and used regedit to check that the extra key listed above did not exist on my "clean" version - so I deleted with confidence.
- I ran "spyware doctor" when system was not showing desktop and taskbar - it made a lot of fixes. However I decided to restore these fixes after getting system running again - just in case "incomplete boot" was causing spyware doctor to find false problems.

[horiageorg]

Hey everyone – I believe I’ve found a solution for this one.

I had similar problems to those described. System restore, repair install doesn’t work so some googling provided the following solution.

- CTRL-Alt-Del to bring up Task Manager.
- Click File | New Task(run).
- Type regedit in the Run box and click OK.
- Browse to the following registry key:

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

Under this key there will be subkey named explorer.exe and possibly iexplorer.exe. These should not be listed under the Image File Execution.Options key and should be deleted.
To delete you will probably need to change permissions – just right click to get to permissions – then “allow all”
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Restart the computer.

The lesson to be learned here is that you really need to use backup periodically so that all system files are backed up on a SEPARATE hard disc.

Hope this helps someone.

Tom Tennant

Hi!
I have the same problem, but explorer.exe and iexplorere.exe are not listed under this key. So, I haven't got the solution.
horiageorg

[zalmoxes]

i have the same problem but.... more serious. ctrl+alt+delete works and task manager pops up.... but i cant get task manager to run ANY program(browse key causes the task manager to close). regedit does not work. msconfig does not work. explporer.exe does not work. i dont see any suspicious processes that might prevent explorer.exe from working. PLEASE HELP!!!! i need a boot cd that will allow me to system restore....safe mode gives me the exact same problem. the task manager in safe mode doesnt let me load any programs either. the task manager just closes when i give a 'new task' command

[bartonc]

i have the same problem but.... more serious. ctrl+alt+delete works and task manager pops up.... but i cant get task manager to run ANY program(browse key causes the task manager to close). regedit does not work. msconfig does not work. explporer.exe does not work. i dont see any suspicious processes that might prevent explorer.exe from working. PLEASE HELP!!!! i need a boot cd that will allow me to system restore....safe mode gives me the exact same problem. the task manager in safe mode doesnt let me load any programs either. the task manager just closes when i give a 'new task' command

Bart's PE is my favorite bootable disk. Instructions for creating it are on optimizingpc.com.

[bartonc]

Bart's PE is my favorite bootable disk. Instructions for creating it are on optimizingpc.com.

I'm also looking into Ultamate Boot CD.