Solved LOST START MENU AND TASKBAR WIN7 32bit

[marc1964]

(very novice pc experience)
re- LOST START MENU AND TASK-BAR WIN7
about a week ago i ran a scan from Avira and 1 issue came up and without thinking i clicked delete and deleted an infected bad file (i know from now being told that two malware/virus programs are not good as they can conflict and have since removed avira antivirus and only have AVAST installed now) anyway after a re-boot the next day i noticed both the Task bar and Start Menu had disappeared, on doing some google'ing of the problem and reading of some similar problems/remedies opened the task manager and deleted and replaced i think a explorer.exe file in start-up but the problem remained, after running a copy of a back up repair disc managed to get into ADMIN and CMD, entered SFC/scannow and got a message saying ''there is a system repair pending which requires a re-boot to complete, re-start and run SFC again'' i did this 5 times only to get the same message, i have tried to understand various helpful suggestions on a different web win7 forum but i just have not got the tech knowledge to follow their instructions, from my very limited experience i have a gut feeling i must of deleted a system file but just can not get into the system to fix it without the start menu, i can get into CMD but only by running the repair disc, right clicking and running as admin' doesn't work or does the SFC, surely there must be a way i can get the Task bar and Start Menu back without having to re-format/re-install?, can somebody help in being patient in helping resolve this very frustrating problem, many thanks in advance,

i have a repair disc i made last year to hand and both win 7 pro 32 bit and 64 bit install discs, unfortunately i did not make a system image disc, i have tried to revert back to the time just before i did the infected file removal but something stopped that from working, maybe the 2 virus programs installed, (since removed one) maybe there is more to the problem than this one file i removed i just do not know or understand,

A previous suggestion was to do SFC offline in ''X'' instead of ''C'' but i got totally lost there, i tried my best in following the experts instructions and think they gave up trying through my lack of expertise in using PC's

 

[FliGi7]

If you can't perform a system restore and SFC isn't working, it sounds like the only option left is to do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html or a complete format and reinstall.

 

[Jacee]

Put Unhide on a "Clean" flash drive and then use it on the infected machine
UnHide: http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

 

[marc1964]

If you can't perform a system restore and SFC isn't working, it sounds like the only option left is to do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html or a complete format and reinstall.

tried a restore back to 29th feb 12 but that hasn't resolved the missing menu / task-bar,

I found some instructions re running the repair disc 3 times as it can take 3 attempts to find/fix issues in missing files but that didn't repair anything, then i entered in CMD (from a tutorial you suggested in the forums tutorial section 681 startup repair) saying to run SFC in off boot, entered "SFC/SCANNOW/OFFBOOTDIR=C:\ /OFFWINDIR=C:\windows" but got confused with the 3 options it came up with so was reluctant to enter or try anything more in case i did harm etc,

re: removal of an infected file from a scan i did prior to the Start / Task-bar disappearing, i was wrong in thinking it was Avira that i removed and deleted an infected file, on checking back it was in Avast that i moved a file into the virus vault and in fact didn't delete it, the file in the Avast vault is named ''ffe50-slaicb.dll'' and location is '' C:\windows\system32\efifnk '' i tried a google search of the file but i can not seem to find what it is, i tried clicking "restore" but do not think i know how or where to put it, just hopeless at these things, would you think this said file has anything re the missing Task-bar and Start Menu going missing?,

 

[AddRAM]

Can you get to the start menu and taskbar properties in the control panel ?

Press CTRL+ESC. If your Taskbar magically reappears, then it's probably simply been resized too small, repositioned somewhere you didn't expect it, or perhaps it's beneath another application that's running full-screen on your computer.

 

[marc1964]

Can you get to the start menu and taskbar properties in the control panel ?

Sorry i am not sure AddRam, just not experienced enough to find a way to there with no Menu, unless i have step by step instructions,

 

[AddRAM]

Ya I guess that 1st suggestion was stupid. Smacks self in the head.

 

[marc1964]

Ya I guess that 1st suggestion was stupid. Smacks self in the head.

not at all, any suggestions are most welcome,

 

[marc1964]

Put Unhide on a "Clean" flash drive and then use it on the infected machine
UnHide: http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

ok, i will have to go out and buy a flash drive as i don't think i have one, and try your suggestion, can i ask what that will un hide, many thanks.

 

[marc1964]

might sound silly but would up grading to Win7 64bit restore the Task-bar and Start menu? or is that not practical? as i have a copy of each in the box i originaly bought, just a off subject question but what is the difference between the two? 32 and 64bit?

 

[Jacee]

It sounds like you have malware on your machine .... don't bother updating, you need to get rid of the infection.

 

[marc1964]

Now this is really weird, this morning my gf had to move the monitor to one side of the desk to clean, by some odd reason all the desk top icons along with the clock and some other gadgets dissapeared and the Start button / bottom Task bar appeared!!, so, first thing i did was check the plugs/adapter leads things that are held in place by screw things, by tightening them, then disaster, the icons reapeared but Task-bar and Start no longer show, i removed all the conections on the back to check in case a pin may of got bent but all look fine, maybe now somone might know whats going on?, so think that this is not a Malware problem, as the PC boots up and goes online in 30 seconds and everything seems

 

[marc1964]

It sounds like you have malware on your machine .... don't bother updating, you need to get rid of the infection.

maybe but please read my updated reply today Jacee.

 

[marc1964]

SOLVED,
After trying many suggestions my GF moved the monitor over to one side of the desk to clean behind it when weirdly both Task-bar / Start button re-appeared but! all the other icons and gadgets vasnished!, my first thought was a cable had come adrift, tried tightening the cable sockets and everything reverted back to missing Start and Task-bar missing but the icons and gadgets were back, so i thought well if the Start/Task-bar work i must still have them somewhere as i just see them, cutting this short as i tried everything i could try ended up at "screen resolution" clicked "multiple layers" and clicked "show desk-top on 2" Task-bar and Start button appeared, how i nearly ended up reformatting and a big bill, i had tried this i am certain but it did not work before, something must of reset itself maybe?, anyway happy its back, thankyou to all for your time and help, great Windows help/info site!,

 

[Golden]

SOLVED,
After trying many suggestions my GF moved the monitor over to one side of the desk to clean behind it when weirdly both Task-bar / Start button re-appeared

Good work - we could use your girlfriend here to help us out with some of the difficult queries we get

Regards,
Golden