Taskbar and desktop items gone


  1. pbottcher
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
       New #1

    Taskbar and desktop items gone


    Hi,

    As my pc is very slow (Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz lol) I decided to run ccleaner again and make a virus scan. Some viruses were found and a lot of crap was deleted with ccleaner, I also disabled some things in the boot menu with ccleaner (or what is it called?). After that I turned my pc off but first Windows had to do some update.
    The next time I started my pc the taskbar and desktop were gone, the only thing that is there when it starts is a window with the drives etc.
    Things I tried/read in various forums:
    - ctrl-alt-delete -> run -> explorer.exe -> normally the taskbar should show up but it opens another window with the drives
    - replaced the explorer.exe file, nothing changed
    - installed another anti-virus program, deleted some malware
    - some other things I already forgot

    Any other ideas? I'm trying to solve this for 2 days without any luck...

    EDIT: Forgot to mention, if I go to the control panel and click on "Taskbar and start menu" nothing happens, it doesn't open any window. Also, if I set a background and reboot the pc again, the background will be gone.
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  3. Maguscreed
    Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       New #2

    if you right click the desktop, under view. Is show desktop checked?
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  4. pbottcher
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Nothing happens if I right-click the desktop.
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  6. Maguscreed
    Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       New #4

    Can you get a command prompt up?
    If so this might be the next best step.
    SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

    I hate to suggest a system restore since viruses were removed.
    A Repair Install might even be in order.
    Just for the record never use the ccleaner registry function. ...only the file cleaner.
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  7. pbottcher
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Already did the SFC /SCANNOW 2 times...

    Hmm I think I'll have to do a Repair Install then. I will wait if somebody else knows a more simple solution thought.
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  8. Maguscreed
    Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       New #6

    well I don't know where the damage is now. I'm figuring it's either files that were quarantined during the virus removal that windows actually needed. Or it could be the registry cleaning. I just have no way of knowing when I can't look for myself.

    Repair install will return you to a normal desktop and will not delete any of your user files or anything though.
    I would use it just for easy back up though.
    Getting a new clean install on there is probably the best thing, though admittedly repair install + backup + reformat clean install.
    Could be very time consuming so that's up to you.
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