Help! My desktop&taskbar is gone!

So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all boot
up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right click on
desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget bar.
The only way to get online to internet is by going through the "get more
gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
Anyone know how I can get them back?
Thankyou

Malke
Fri Mar 28 11:22:51 PDT 2008

bonnie wrote:

> So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
> The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all boot
> up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right click
> on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
> bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the "get
> more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
> Anyone know how I can get them back?
> Thankyou

So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
(and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things worked.

To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box type
"System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the wizard.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Tom
Fri Mar 28 11:32:39 PDT 2008


"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:eNh38CQkIHA.484@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> bonnie wrote:
>
>> So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
>> The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all boot
>> up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right click
>> on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
>> bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the "get
>> more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
>> Anyone know how I can get them back?
>> Thankyou
>
> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things worked.
>
> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box type
> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the wizard.

It sounds to me like he doesn't have the Start Orb. He has nothing but the Sidebar.

Tom Lake

bonnie
Fri Mar 28 11:40:01 PDT 2008

Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of the
task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?


"Malke" wrote:

> bonnie wrote:
>
> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all boot
> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right click
> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the "get
> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
> > Thankyou
>
> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things worked.
>
> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box type
> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the wizard.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> Don't Panic!
>

Dave
Fri Mar 28 11:48:54 PDT 2008

Try pressing the Windows Key on the keyboard.


--
Vista Home Premium 32 SP1
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview


"bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E3C53F54-22C6-427D-901C-2A70D1564950@microsoft.com...
> Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of the
> task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?
>
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> bonnie wrote:
>>
>> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
>> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all
>> > boot
>> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right
>> > click
>> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
>> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the
>> > "get
>> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
>> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
>> > Thankyou
>>
>> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
>> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things
>> worked.
>>
>> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box
>> type
>> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
>> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
>> wizard.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> Don't Panic!
>>

Mark
Fri Mar 28 11:54:22 PDT 2008

In the browser address bar, type:
file:///%systemroot%/System32/restore/rstrui.exe

'Open' the file

--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
Mark L. Ferguson
.

"bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E3C53F54-22C6-427D-901C-2A70D1564950@microsoft.com...
> Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of the
> task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?
>
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> bonnie wrote:
>>
>> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
>> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all
>> > boot
>> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right
>> > click
>> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
>> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the
>> > "get
>> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
>> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
>> > Thankyou
>>
>> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
>> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things
>> worked.
>>
>> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box
>> type
>> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
>> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
>> wizard.
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers
>> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> Don't Panic!
>>

bonnie
Fri Mar 28 12:26:01 PDT 2008

You are right mark, the only thing is the gaget bar, no start menu to be found.
Thank you for the reply. I am going to try what you told me to write in
address bar.
I think the proiblem was made by malware. But after I did some searching,
the antivirus told me it was in the vault!

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> In the browser address bar, type:
> file:///%systemroot%/System32/restore/rstrui.exe
>
> 'Open' the file
>
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
> Mark L. Ferguson
> .
>
> "bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E3C53F54-22C6-427D-901C-2A70D1564950@microsoft.com...
> > Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of the
> > task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?
> >
> >
> > "Malke" wrote:
> >
> >> bonnie wrote:
> >>
> >> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
> >> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all
> >> > boot
> >> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right
> >> > click
> >> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
> >> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the
> >> > "get
> >> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
> >> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
> >> > Thankyou
> >>
> >> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
> >> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things
> >> worked.
> >>
> >> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box
> >> type
> >> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
> >> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
> >> wizard.
> >>
> >> Malke
> >> --
> >> MS-MVP
> >> Elephant Boy Computers
> >> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> >> Don't Panic!
> >>

bonnie
Fri Mar 28 12:29:02 PDT 2008

Hi again Mark, I C & P'd the line that you gave me but it gave me an error
stating that windows could not find that and to check spelling?
Any more ideas?

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> In the browser address bar, type:
> file:///%systemroot%/System32/restore/rstrui.exe
>
> 'Open' the file
>
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
> Mark L. Ferguson
> .
>
> "bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E3C53F54-22C6-427D-901C-2A70D1564950@microsoft.com...
> > Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of the
> > task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?
> >
> >
> > "Malke" wrote:
> >
> >> bonnie wrote:
> >>
> >> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
> >> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar all
> >> > boot
> >> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right
> >> > click
> >> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the gaget
> >> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the
> >> > "get
> >> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
> >> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
> >> > Thankyou
> >>
> >> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it out
> >> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things
> >> worked.
> >>
> >> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box
> >> type
> >> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
> >> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
> >> wizard.
> >>
> >> Malke
> >> --
> >> MS-MVP
> >> Elephant Boy Computers
> >> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> >> Don't Panic!
> >>

Malke
Fri Mar 28 13:05:21 PDT 2008

bonnie wrote:

> You are right mark, the only thing is the gaget bar, no start menu to be
> found. Thank you for the reply. I am going to try what you told me to
> write in address bar.
> I think the proiblem was made by malware. But after I did some searching,
> the antivirus told me it was in the vault!

Ah, so this *isn't* a case of "my computer was fine and has now mysteriously
stopped working".

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using
Multi_AV in Vista.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

You can also check to see if there are targeted removal steps for your
malware here:
Bleeping Computer removal how-to's -
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html

When all else fails, run HijackThis and post your log in one of the
specialty forums listed at the first link above (not here, please).

Not all tools used will work in Vista and you will need to run them
elevated. If you are unable to remove the infection by following the
general steps, register at one of the HijackThis forums as suggested.

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself
(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent
of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops
are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be
so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have
all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

Mark
Fri Mar 28 14:14:46 PDT 2008

just typing :

rstrui.exe

should start system restore.

--
Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
interface.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
Mark L. Ferguson
.

"bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6B2F0157-556C-4C46-B6A8-B5BBEA515088@microsoft.com...
> Hi again Mark, I C & P'd the line that you gave me but it gave me an
> error
> stating that windows could not find that and to check spelling?
> Any more ideas?
>
> "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
>
>> In the browser address bar, type:
>> file:///%systemroot%/System32/restore/rstrui.exe
>>
>> 'Open' the file
>>
>> --
>> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
>> interface.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
>> Mark L. Ferguson
>> .
>>
>> "bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E3C53F54-22C6-427D-901C-2A70D1564950@microsoft.com...
>> > Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of
>> > the
>> > task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?
>> >
>> >
>> > "Malke" wrote:
>> >
>> >> bonnie wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
>> >> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar
>> >> > all
>> >> > boot
>> >> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right
>> >> > click
>> >> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the
>> >> > gaget
>> >> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the
>> >> > "get
>> >> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
>> >> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
>> >> > Thankyou
>> >>
>> >> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it
>> >> out
>> >> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things
>> >> worked.
>> >>
>> >> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box
>> >> type
>> >> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
>> >> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
>> >> wizard.
>> >>
>> >> Malke
>> >> --
>> >> MS-MVP
>> >> Elephant Boy Computers
>> >> www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> >> Don't Panic!
>> >>

bonnie
Sat Mar 29 18:01:01 PDT 2008

Thank you Mark, I ran superantispyware software and it got rid of what ever
it was and now my desktop is up and running agian. I am not sure how much
damage it did to the h/drive but so far it is working ok and booting up
normally.
Thank you for helping everyone.

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

> just typing :
>
> rstrui.exe
>
> should start system restore.
>
> --
> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> interface.
> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
> Mark L. Ferguson
> .
>
> "bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6B2F0157-556C-4C46-B6A8-B5BBEA515088@microsoft.com...
> > Hi again Mark, I C & P'd the line that you gave me but it gave me an
> > error
> > stating that windows could not find that and to check spelling?
> > Any more ideas?
> >
> > "Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:
> >
> >> In the browser address bar, type:
> >> file:///%systemroot%/System32/restore/rstrui.exe
> >>
> >> 'Open' the file
> >>
> >> --
> >> Was this helpful? Then click the Ratings button. Voting helps the web
> >> interface.
> >> http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPostAsAnswer
> >> Mark L. Ferguson
> >> .
> >>
> >> "bonnie" <bonnie@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:E3C53F54-22C6-427D-901C-2A70D1564950@microsoft.com...
> >> > Thankyou Malke for replying, but I dont even have the "start" part of
> >> > the
> >> > task bar. It is gone also. Is there another way to get to it?
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > "Malke" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> bonnie wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > So I have vista home premium, all was going well until yesterday!
> >> >> > The PC will boot up normally, I can see everything icons, taskbar
> >> >> > all
> >> >> > boot
> >> >> > up. Once it is all up and ready they dissapear! I can't even right
> >> >> > click
> >> >> > on desktop nothing happens! The only thing left on desktop is the
> >> >> > gaget
> >> >> > bar. The only way to get online to internet is by going through the
> >> >> > "get
> >> >> > more gagets online" part of the gaget bar.
> >> >> > Anyone know how I can get them back?
> >> >> > Thankyou
> >> >>
> >> >> So, what changed between today and yesterday? If you can't figure it
> >> >> out
> >> >> (and reverse whatever you did), try a System Restore to when things
> >> >> worked.
> >> >>
> >> >> To run System Restore, go to the Start Orb and in the Start Search box
> >> >> type
> >> >> "System Restore" without the quotes. System Restore will appear in the
> >> >> Programs result. Click on it, allow the UAC prompt, and follow the
> >> >> wizard.
> >> >>
> >> >> Malke
> >> >> --
> >> >> MS-MVP
> >> >> Elephant Boy Computers
> >> >> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> >> >> Don't Panic!
> >> >>