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Disappearing icons, start menu

Last answer on Nov 15, 2009 11:50:03 pm GMT hutchins888, on Jul 7, 2008 10:40:09 pm BST 
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Hello,toolbar, startup menu icons missing after starting i e 7 can't retrieve back to windows. Works fine in safe mode. Can you help? Please email.

Configuration: Windows Vista
Internet Explorer 7.0

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1

Itboy26, on Jul 8, 2008 9:25:31 am BST
  • +2

I think that you have got a virus on your pc

Please scan your pc on safe boot and try booting again ,if the problem continue make all backup on safe mode and then format your drive.



The virus has infected your system files.

Reply to Itboy26

45

imadude, on Feb 25, 2009 8:14:51 pm GMT
  • +8

How do u get 2 safe mode on windows xp

Reply to imadude

64

WizKid, on May 25, 2009 2:03:28 pm BST

Push F9 or F10 and it will go to a screen saying run in normal or safe

Reply to WizKid

2

renjiomega, on Sep 14, 2008 9:15:13 pm BST
  • +9

I too have been recently havn problems with this and if this helps in any way i'm glad cuz i jus wanna help out others as i want to bre helped ....

Intended For
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2003
Windows 2000

From time to time, Explorer (the application responsible for the taskbar, desktop, and Start Menu) will crash, and the taskbar and all your desktop icons will disappear. Now, there’s a built-in safeguard for this that relaunches Explorer automatically if such a crash is detected, but it doesn’t always work as it’s designed. For example, if you have a separate Windows Explorer window open and the Launch folder windows in a separate process option (in Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View tab) is enabled, and the taskbar disappears, Windows will mistakenly open another Windows Explorer window instead of reinstating your taskbar and desktop. Here's how to get your taskbar and desktop back:

Close all visible Windows Explorer windows. Other running applications can be left alone.

Press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and then click Task Manager.

In the Windows Task Manager application that appears, select New Task (Run) from the File menu.

Type Explorer and click Ok.

Reply to renjiomega

3

alex, on Oct 27, 2008 3:34:37 pm GMT
  • +4

I ahve try alt +crt+ del but its telling me that by task manager has been disable by my administrater
what should i do

Reply to alex

9

Deep, on Nov 19, 2008 8:15:04 am GMT
  • +14

Download RRT.EXE from google and run in safe mode ur problem is solve after.

Reply to Deep

10

catlam, on Nov 21, 2008 3:17:13 pm GMT
  • +50

I have the same problem.. Last night my computer went blank.. now, all I can see on it is the wallpaper.. no icons, no start icon.. nothing. It looks like your advice is working well for others, so I would like to try it.... but I don't understand what it means to "download RRT.EXE from google".. Besides, I can't even get to google anyway. I can't do anything with my comp. I am using my comp at work right now. Please help. Thanks!

Reply to catlam

52

ditto, on Mar 17, 2009 1:36:04 pm GMT
  • +10

When booting icons appear and quickly disappear and I am left with a blank wallpaper--no startup or anything. I cut it off and wait and reboot, but same thing happens over & over. It does not go to safemode. So, should I try f11 for a recovery?

Reply to ditto

75

Goldie, on Sep 5, 2009 4:41:30 pm BST
  • +5

I have the same problem, my daughter downloaded a virus last week. I installed eset an antivirus software that was recommended by my (IT) co-worker. I'm still not able to retreive my desk top or start up menu all I have is my wallpaper. What do you recomend?

Reply to Goldie

79

samhanson7, on Nov 15, 2009 11:47:13 pm GMT

Same here

Reply to samhanson7

40

Micki12, on Feb 22, 2009 10:47:36 pm GMT
  • +2

I have the same problem as alex my computer says the adminstator is disabling the task manager what do i do...
o and im at the library looking this up so i can't acess the internet either
im connected just nothing is happening

Reply to Micki12

7

koanvista, on Nov 7, 2008 6:16:19 am GMT
  • +27

Thnx so much for advice on restoring taskbar and start menu using task manager. i was so frustrated. your a champ.

Reply to koanvista

70

Maharet53, on Jul 26, 2009 6:01:41 pm BST
  • +7

I lost my start up button, cannot get into my computer/ control panel exceipt thru the task manager.
HELP!!!

Reply to Maharet53

80

 shorty, on Nov 15, 2009 11:50:03 pm GMT

I'm trying to recover my start button, I don't know what to do? I tryed the ctrl alt delete. I typed in explorer and nothing happened.. I need some help. Thank you

Reply to shorty

73

dhileepan, on Aug 8, 2009 6:05:58 am BST
  • +4

What is a advice plzzz tell i have same problem

Reply to dhileepan

8

Fedrizzi, on Nov 11, 2008 7:21:58 am GMT

This helped my problem too

I did not have my desktop or toolbar. I just got a Mac and I run VM fusion ware which is great. But when it updated windows xp service pack and rebooted the desktop and toolbar went missing.

I tried the above direction

c alt del

then run task

explorer

That it self did not work

then i went to tasks and shut down one of the explorers. Then it worked.
So if above does not work then try to shut down one of the task.

Thanks

Reply to Fedrizzi

11

mooglepie, on Nov 24, 2008 8:50:48 am GMT
  • +3

Nice that worked, thanks!!!

from time to time my laptop will just poweroff on its own. so i'll reboot the machine only to find, after the blue windows screen is displayed, that a blank screen shows up with only my cursor. what to do is this:

hit ctrl, alt delete. click processes tab and select any Explorer running. hit end task and yes to end process. once there's no more of those on the list, go to Tasks or Programs tab and hti the new task button. type Explorer, and hit okay. alternately you could browse to firefox.exe's location or iexplorer.exe if you want to access the internet for help (which amazingly, works without the taskbar or desktop behind it)

Reply to mooglepie

13

exDiller, on Dec 6, 2008 3:45:39 pm GMT

Mooglepie,

Sounds like your laptop may be overheating and shutting down to save the CPU. Could get expensive if this is the case and you fry your cpu. Unless you need a good reason to get a new one :-P

Make sure the fans on the bottom are not blocked!

Cheers,
D

Reply to exDiller

15

Gord.G, on Dec 10, 2008 7:13:28 am GMT
  • +2

Hi,
Apparently i dont seem to be going anywhere with all the solutions. I can access my task manager even when booting from safe mode. What can i do.
Plz help

Reply to Gord.G

59

watt, on Apr 19, 2009 4:37:59 pm BST

I am aggre with him .many time we faced and solve this problem
wattvolt

Reply to watt

14

mlf, on Dec 8, 2008 8:00:26 pm GMT

I was so mad and every one I called wanted $200 to fix it, But you are the best I did what you said.

hit ctrl, alt delete. click processes tab and select any Explorer running. hit end task and yes to end process.

As soon as I deleted one of them my computer was back. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

Reply to mlf

33

KT, on Feb 14, 2009 7:14:13 pm GMT
  • +1

Perfect! Once I killed the old explorer.exe process and restarted explorer, i got all of them back. Thank you! That was a very annoying problem.

Reply to KT

22

nita, on Jan 25, 2009 2:36:31 am GMT

Hello,

may i ask how you went to tasks and shut down one of the explorers??

Reply to nita

25

nita, on Jan 28, 2009 6:32:57 pm GMT
  • +4

Hello fredrizzi,


may i ask how you went to tasks and shut down one of the explorers??

Reply to nita

12

Belle, on Nov 25, 2008 12:19:50 pm GMT

Yours helped. thank you so much.

Reply to Belle

16

caligirl, on Dec 11, 2008 12:22:50 am GMT

Thanks so much renjiomega. I did exactly what you said and it worked perfectly.

Reply to caligirl

18

divyesh, on Dec 23, 2008 3:35:34 am GMT
  • +1

Thanks lllllooooooooooooooot

Reply to divyesh

19

Redd8605, on Dec 26, 2008 1:00:48 am GMT

Im having the same problem as everyone else how do I reformat my drive

Reply to Redd8605

71

Bon, on Aug 4, 2009 5:13:43 am BST
  • +1

My screen has cut off the left and right sides,I cannot get it back where I can access my home pages or msg.s

Reply to Bon

72

Bon, on Aug 4, 2009 5:13:44 am BST

My screen has cut off the left and right sides,I cannot get it back where I can access my home pages or msg.s

Reply to Bon

20

nick, on Jan 14, 2009 2:45:11 pm GMT

Grt man ,thanks , it really worked ...

Reply to nick

21

redpoy, on Jan 16, 2009 5:27:32 pm GMT

Please give your sources renjiomega :
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article07-006

Reply to redpoy

27

Vic, on Feb 2, 2009 7:05:27 am GMT
  • +1

Im having the same problem....

I ctrl>alt>delete,
New task, and I type "explorer"

The desktop icons come, but then a few seconds later, they go away again.

and it keeps doing that for a while...

it comes, and goes.... a few times...
then after a few times doing that...
it goes back to blank screen (just wall paper) and thats it.

I have tried everything.

the root thing, safe mode, any other ideas?!

Reply to Vic

32

Relieved, on Feb 9, 2009 2:37:07 am GMT
  • +1

Thank you. Your fix for retrieving the start menu and the active icons bar worked for me.

Reply to Relieved

37

andy7772, on Feb 16, 2009 7:04:47 pm GMT

It worked! but guess what? it disappeared! it brought up everything that i wanted (my files and desktop stuff) but then, along with the rest off the stuff on my desktop, it disappeared! again!

Reply to andy7772

38

db, on Feb 17, 2009 4:49:52 am GMT
  • +3

Hi, I have the same problem, I followed your instruction, it did work, I was able

to get my icons back when I type explorer.exe but when i restart my computer
my icons does not automatically display, i have to alt ctrl del togo to the task mgr

all the time to get my desktop icon back. is there a way to have this auto. like
it was before? thanks for any help.

david

Reply to db

39

anonymous, on Feb 19, 2009 10:47:49 pm GMT

Thank you so much i couldn't find out what was wrong

Reply to anonymous

44

munira, on Feb 25, 2009 12:20:00 pm GMT

I do not have any task manager on my windows after pressing ctrl alt delete what should i do to bring icons on my windows

Reply to munira

49

tc, on Mar 7, 2009 3:38:16 am GMT
  • +1

Hi
i m having the same problem and i pressed ctrl-alt-del to solve it but my task manager is not visible can u help me for that
thankyou

Reply to tc

68

Bengilo, on Jun 26, 2009 12:37:49 am BST

I've tried the ctrl alt del, but the task manager is not visible. Pls help.

Reply to Bengilo

76

kiran816, on Sep 18, 2009 8:05:49 am BST

Just work for CTR+ALT+ESC

Reply to kiran816

54

guest, on Mar 18, 2009 5:23:25 pm GMT
  • +1

Followed your advice, many thanks ! my start menu and taskbar have retuned, again many thanx

Reply to guest

58

dankavan12, on Apr 12, 2009 12:42:27 am BST
  • +1

I did that but whenever I log on I have to to do is there a way to do it once anf or all.
Thanks a lot! :)

Reply to dankavan12

60

Ronnie, on Apr 20, 2009 4:38:00 pm BST

Thank You my lovely, it worked a treat! x

Reply to Ronnie

66

VT, on Jun 12, 2009 7:01:40 am BST
  • +1

Thanks dude keep doin wat u do ur awesome

Reply to VT

67

mara, on Jun 15, 2009 6:22:30 am BST
  • +1

I was doing a search on Bing to find out how to solve this problem because my taskbar and windows start up is constantly disappearing when I restart the computer. Your advice here worked perfectly and I want to thank you for posting and sharing. Now I know what to do when I have the problem. Thank you so much.

Mara

Reply to mara

4

Stewrt, on Oct 28, 2008 1:17:55 am GMT

I'Ve got the exact same thing, nasty lil bugger isn't it.

All the same symptoms you have, the crt/alt/del disabled. And having half of my start menu options disabled. Along with some popups and other things.

I did a scan in safe mode with AVG and Spybot S+D both found some things but it keeps coming back.


Ill post if I find a solution, but it doesn't look good.

Stu

Reply to Stewrt

5

lee, on Oct 31, 2008 10:06:48 am GMT

What oppirating system.

Reply to lee

6

stewrt, on Oct 31, 2008 11:47:37 am GMT
  • +1

Win XP Home,


I backed up and reformatted yesterday. I knew which file the virus came in which was a big help.

Stu

Reply to stewrt

17

3lowout, on Dec 12, 2008 10:47:11 pm GMT

HEY!
well, i dont know if you fully know, but im going to just explain a littel more,
the virus is w3.silly (something like that) is just make high risks, saying lock you out your computer i.e. start bar ect not working, when i tryed to download my i.e was not working, i could not transfer files, to install and when i did get the file on the computer it dident let me install.... DAM... seems, broke now, i was like, FULL REBOOT?
then i see my files and i dident want to get rid of them so i did this...
after some time on working the problem seem's easy now tho...
do this...
Ctrl+Alt+Del.
Start Task Manager.
click "FILE" on task manager..
Then NEW TASK.
In the box Type "explorer.exe" then wait 30 sec's if that..
theirs you task bar before next robot,
so you still can not install to get rid of the virus...
i had "norton 360" and face it thats WACK softwere...
so im sure you AV will show up this virus, when you load it now, do a FULL scan not a quick one.
it should pick it up..
then reboot your system. (on and off)
most stuff still wont work after it gone? think it still their nope, it turned all your windows exe off...
go..
START.
Control Panel\
System and Maintenance\
Administrative Tools\
system configuration.
--
then click start up tab on system configuration
then click enable all, go out it will say reboot system.
you made need to do it 4 times max to get it all working, i did it two times and it working PERFECT!
This is ONLY for windows VISTA!
thanks for your time reading, and i hope it helped...

3lowout,

Reply to 3lowout

23

Nath, on Jan 25, 2009 9:13:32 pm GMT

Thx guys the cntrl alt delete then task manager then new task explorer works fine but i hvae problem i have to do it evrytime i start the laptop up is there any way to stop this ?
thank you=]

Reply to Nath

77

DONNY, on Sep 19, 2009 1:44:35 am BST

I HAVE TRIED THIS BUT I CANNOT ACCHIVE FINDING THE EXPLORER.EXE FILE IT SAYS THE PATH IS UNSPECIFIED OR SUMTHING LIKE THAT ...ETC I HAVE BEEN ON THE INTERNET FOR 3 DAYS AND HAVE FOUND NONE TO HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM........PLEASE HELP ME

Reply to DONNY

24

Jesse, on Jan 28, 2009 12:01:04 am GMT

THANK YOU SOO MUCH you fixed my problem!!!!!!! thank you!!!

Reply to Jesse

26

max, on Jan 31, 2009 5:33:47 pm GMT

Do you think you could download like windows vista to fix thi problem... or, i mean i dont want to like system restore, because i have to many important files...
and im running Nortopn Symantec, and Windows Onecare picking up countless viruses... but every time i try to run the "explorer" thing in new task i get this "windows cannot find 'Explorer'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

Reply to max

28

Carmen, on Feb 3, 2009 1:37:20 am GMT

I did wat u guys told me but everytime i type in explorer, it saids it cant find it. I also went to processed and did all that stuff but it still wont work D: HELP MEEEE IM GOING INSANE!

Reply to Carmen

29

DJ, on Feb 7, 2009 5:34:59 pm GMT

We are having the same problem and have tried every solution posted

problem: no task bar, no icons
Tried:
1. task manager - turning off all other explorers (there are none showing up)
2. task manager, new task, explorer.exe, ok - shows "windows explorer has encountered an error and needs to close"

HELP?!

Reply to DJ

30

Brandon Shipman, on Feb 8, 2009 12:21:08 am GMT

The
Ctrl=Alt=Delete thing WORKED.
You push ctrl+alt+delete and got to Task manager.
Then got to new task.
Then type in EXPLORER>I did it in CAPS,u try this,it should work

Reply to Brandon Shipman

31

K, on Feb 8, 2009 4:07:53 am GMT

Apparently, typing in Explorer only works for like a few minutes. My task bar keeps disappearing. It doesn't seem right to have to do it that often.

Has anyone else had this problem? Any solutions? Get my computer fixed at a shop maybe?

Thanks.

Reply to K

34

Paul, on Feb 15, 2009 11:19:19 pm GMT
  • +1

Ahhh, a new development:

I am having the same problems, but nothing happens when I press "ctrl + alt + del"

thoughts?

Reply to Paul

41

tee, on Feb 22, 2009 11:54:40 pm GMT

I have same problem i get the box but when i click task manager box disappears and i have
my wallpaper screen so it is impossible to start / end explorer or anything else
what did u do>to fix? thanks

Reply to tee

53

Julieee :D, on Mar 18, 2009 3:15:16 pm GMT
  • +1

Well did it but when i type in
"EXPLORER" this thing called
"Data Execution Program" or
something like that pops up
&& it says that it has blocked it
and that i have to go to my
control panel to unblock it but
my start menu is gone so I
dont know what to do! and well
i tried the keyboard shortcut
but it still dosent work so yeah i
need help

Reply to Julieee :D

35

susan, on Feb 16, 2009 10:24:39 am GMT

Hi sir
i have got a problem that there are no icons start menu on desktop. i can reforum my computer

Reply to susan

36

Brian, on Feb 16, 2009 6:02:32 pm GMT

Ive recently had this problem, if ur task manager says its blocked by admin, click start,


REG add HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Syst­em /v DisableTaskMgr /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Reply to Brian

42

bryan1242, on Feb 23, 2009 8:29:53 pm GMT

Hi everyone!
i've had this for too long and i really want to get rid of it i dont use internet explorer anymore i deleted it before i had this problem and now i currently am using mozilla firefox. when ever i try to do a full scan of my computer with my anti virus program trend micro pc cillin it says "please wait for this to finish loading" i have tried system restore and that did nothing. i have literally done everything this is my last resort. i am clueless please help!!!

Reply to bryan1242

43

tee, on Feb 24, 2009 1:21:28 am GMT

I cant get task manager to open
i have wall paper and get log in screen i log in and get the wallpaper no icons no start
then i do alt cntl del and get the box when i click task manager the screen goes away
does not open tasks
before this happened i had many explorer errors
from reading posts i know if i cn get into task mgr i can del or start explore.exe and
iexplore.e xe cntl shift exc no good either
i know all icons still there i need more scanning ihave spywaredetector but last scan
befor all this i used aol's anti virus and one of the things i had option to delete was
"Memory" anyway any ideas how i can get into system
i am looking recovery console but afraid to do it because i cant aford to
reformat cant lose file help and thanks

Reply to tee

48

SWEETGIRL, on Mar 2, 2009 3:04:48 pm GMT

Hi,

da whole ctrl-alt-del thing works

task manager cums up but wen i type explorer it says da name isnt recognised!!!1:(

wat do i do?????????

help!!!!!!!!!

any1?

Reply to SWEETGIRL

51

noooooooooooooo, on Mar 13, 2009 7:10:36 pm GMT

Yes the same happens to me

i really need help

what shall i do

if i get it up it sais "this application has failed to start because iertutil.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."

but how do i do this i dont know what to do

HEEEEEEEEEEELP PLZ :(:(:(:(

Reply to noooooooooooooo

46

Carmen, on Feb 25, 2009 8:17:56 pm GMT

I ended up bringing it to a shop =.=

Reply to Carmen

55

gah, on Mar 19, 2009 3:31:38 am GMT

Hey, my start menu and icons wont appear, ive tried system restore (through task manager) but the next button in that wont respond, Ive tried unplugging the battery, but nothing happened, i've also tried this run windows explorer trick, but it opens the start menu for less than a second then closes it again.... any tips would be useful

Reply to gah

56

maxine gilbert, on Mar 28, 2009 8:04:39 pm GMT

MY START MENU ICONS HAVE DISAPEARED

Reply to maxine gilbert

57

Cait, on Apr 5, 2009 8:46:07 pm BST

Ok, my laptop froze earlier this morning so I ctrl alt del and hit log off (I didn't remember which to pick) and the computer turned off. I turned it back on, and when I did the wall paper came up. Just the wall paper; no icons, no start menu, no anything. So I tried ctrl alt del again, and nothing happened. The computer didn't restart, shutdown, or give any options whatsoever. I let the battery run out and tried to turn it on again, and it did turn on, but once again, just the wall paper. Tried ctrl alt del again and no success, I really don't know how to fix it, anyone have any ideas?

Reply to Cait

61

FluxFire, on Apr 21, 2009 5:06:50 pm BST
  • +3

My task bar and icons gone and for some reason and explorer.exe doesn't work... not to mention my internet doesn't work on my computer, but works for my mother's..... What should i do? It doesn't work in processes if that helps in anyway.....

Reply to FluxFire