[TheRatPatrol]

I don't know where else to turn, so I'll post here.

I have a laptop with Windows XP and as of last night I lost all of my icons and start bar. I can't even left click on the screen to get any of those options to come up either. The only thing that I can get to come is Windows Task Manger by hitting control alt delete.

What could be wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[flinchum]

Try this. Open Task Manager. Go to "New Task (Run...)" under the File menu and type "explorer" and hit OK.

 

[TheRatPatrol]

Try this. Open Task Manager. Go to "New Task (Run...)" under the File menu and type "explorer" and hit OK.

It says that windows cannot find 'explorer.'

Any other ideas? Should I re-install windows?

 

[dave1234]

It says that windows cannot find 'explorer.'

Any other ideas? Should I re-install windows?

Sure sounds like somethings corrupt if it can't find 'explorer'. It's possible the hard disk drive is on it's death bed. I've had similar problems(can't find particular files) when my disk drive had been failing.

 

[AllieVi]

Have you tried booting in "safe mode". Hit F8 (IIRC) early in the boot-up sequence and the computer will give you options.

 

[ladderless]

Two questions-

When you boot up, what happens? Describe screen-by-screen what you see

Open Task Manager, click on the "Processes" tab, and list all the processes running. That will tell what's working and what isn't.

(trying to run in safe mode is a good first step, too)