laptop will not boot all the way into windows xp

[orangeman]

I have a laptop that, since yesterday, will get to the windows logon screen. When I try to log onto the user, it gets as far as the background screen (desktop). There are no icons, no taskbar, nothing displayed. If I hit control, alt, delete then I can get into that menu. If I hit the windows button, nothing happens.

Any help? The os is win xp

Thanks

 

[Alvin.C]

Hello,

Can you boot into safe mode and log into your account (or the administrator account) successfully?

 

[orangeman]

When I boot into safe mode, the same thing happens. There is nothing displayed in the form of icons or a taskbar. If I right click on the desktop (if you can even call it that) nothing happens.

 

[KSoD]

Can you do a Ctrl+Alt+Del to get up the Task Manager and start explorer.exe manually? Of so try that and get into the Control Panel. Create a new account. Sounds as if your profile is corrupted.

 

[kahlil88]

Probably best to do a repair install if you have the Windows XP disc handy.

 

[orangeman]

I will try those two things but I have a question...

the windows xp install is not the same xp cd that I have. Will it be looking for the same installation cd that was originaly used or am I ok using any windows xp cd?

Thanks,

Ok, I looked at all of the processes running in the task manager and guess what? explorer.exe is not one of them

 

[KSoD]

I know explorer.exe is not one of them. That is why i asked if you could run it thru the task manager. Cause explorer.exe is what runs teh task bar, start menu and all the Windows.

No you cant use a XP disc that is different to your setup. Cant use a XP Home disc to repair a XP Pro setup and vice versa.

 

[orangeman]

Can you do a Ctrl+Alt+Del to get up the Task Manager and start explorer.exe manually? Of so try that and get into the Control Panel. Create a new account. Sounds as if your profile is corrupted.

I am not sure how to start it manually, sorry

 

[KSoD]

When Task Manager is open select file>new task. In there just type explorer.exe and it should start it up manually.

 

[orangeman]

I started explorer.exe manually and the my documents window opened up. There still was no taskbar though.