Can't Access Taskbar/startmenu/icons

[Osiris]

HELP! I installed Aston, the alternative desktop I used with XP, but I guess it wasn't windows 7 compatible, so after installing it and running it for the first time, my task bar disappeared, my start menu disappeared, my desktop icons disappeared, and I can't even right click. The only thing I can do is run the task manager, and use that to run programs for me. Everything seems to run perfectly fine except for what I described earlier. Similar things have happened to me on XP, to which I could just run explorer.exe and everything would come back, but that is not the case with windows 7. When I run explorer.exe, I only get to navigate through my folders.

I tried going through the control panel to access the taskbar/startmenu options, but when I click on it, nothing pops up. Every other icon on the control panel works

 

[reghakr]

Is there a rerstore point you can go bac kto?

 

[Osiris]

I already tried System Restore to a few days ago, but unfortunately, that had no effect. =(

 

[reghakr]

If its listed in Programs and Features,download

RevoUninstaller here:
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

Run that ,it creates a restore poiint,then runs the programs unistaller,then looks for left over file and registry entries

 

[Osiris]

I already uninstalled the program that caused it. That was the first thing I did. So, just to shed a little bit of light, this was a program given to me by a friend who got it from a torrent a few years ago (before Windows Vista had its official release).

I'm scanning my computer right now with BitDefender 2010 to see if its a virus (although I doubt it since I used Aston with my computer back in my XP days with no problem).

So, once again, the only thing I can't access in the control panel is "Taskbar and Start Menu." So if anyone knows what might have caused this function to be disabled, that's probably a good start. So in summary:

-Can't open "taskbar and start menu" from control panel
-Can't right click where the desktop SHOULD be.
-no desktop icons (and it has nothing to do with the desktop icons options in personalization) i.e. All the shortcuts, files, etc. just don't show up.
-must use Task Manager in order start any programs or to browse through files.

 

[reghakr]

Sorry,but with that many problems.............

Most all of us agree that an upgrade is not the route to take. It leaves useless files on your system and can cause conflicts.

Save all you Documents, Pictures, contacts, videos, music, etc to a flash drive,

Be aware, you will need to re-install your 3rd party applications.

There i poll going on now and "clean" install is winning by a mile,.

 

[Osiris]

Upgrade? sorry, I'm not really sure what you're referring to...

I'm pretty sure all the three major problems are all related to one over arching problem.

The Desktop as a whole isn't "on." (taskbar/start menu/ icons)

Does that help any?

---oops--- just realized I was coming off as very sassy---- my bad! It's getting late and I'm thinking properly. O_O

 

[Tews]

Not with your attitude it wont.. Google is your friend...

 

[Osiris]

BTW,Thanks so much reghakr for all your help in this! =D I guess if worse comes to worse, I'll just have to back everything up and get a fresh start like you suggested. However, my harddrive is almost full and so if possible I wanna see if any of us can figure out a solution to this...=/

 

[Osiris]

Not with your attitude it wont.. Google is your friend...

My bad, just re-read my post and realized I sounded like a total douchebag.
I tried looking through google for a while, but I only come across people who don't know how to add My computer/my documents/etc. or people with problems on XP...

 

[Osiris]

Sorry,but with that many problems.............

Most all of us agree that an upgrade is not the route to take. It leaves useless files on your system and can cause conflicts.

Save all you Documents, Pictures, contacts, videos, music, etc to a flash drive,

Be aware, you will need to re-install your 3rd party applications.

There i poll going on now and "clean" install is winning by a mile,.

BTW, sorry if I sounded like a douche earlier. I really do appreciate all the help you've been giving me.

 

[Osiris]

UPDATE: Virus scan just completed. no threats detected. O_O