Ask A Geek

Hi, I’m having the same problems, and I am willing to try this way that has been described, but my Taskbar dissapeared, along with it the Icon for My Computer. Is there another way I can fix the problem?

Me too. I can’t get to my computer. What can I do

Hi Kelly and Tracey: It would be almost impossible to scan a computer with Kaspersky and Spybot — as was done in the original question — without either a taskbar or desktop icons such as My Computer. Don’t worry, there is a workaround! Boot Microsoft Windows into Safe Mode by pressing F8 as your computer first starts. You will then see a list of choices. Choose Safe Mode; do not use the command prompt or networking options. The rest of my instructions should then work as originally posted. Please keep my up-to-date on your progress! Best Regards, Robert B.

Hey i tried but it does nothing. Will anyone help me for the same

i have the same problem but the only way i can get access to my computer is by using the task manager ctrl+alt+del and go to new task, browse from there u can go to my computer and fix the problem good luck

this problem started 3 days ago and i have been trying to fix nonstop since. this defrag/error check thing sounds like it might be reason for hope. i’ll let you guys know what happens,

i have a problem im just on the computer when all od a sudden the icon and the strat button and the time everthing goes off exxpest for the programs i already pen and i don no why plzz help

i have the same prob. desktop, explorer disappear every 5 to 10 seconds.
performed a complete scan using avast, vundo remover and superantispyware. no use at al

i have the same issue i’ve done a virus and spyware scan and did not help. i then tried a chckdsk… nothing. so then i figure boot from windows cd and run a repair windows also nothing. which brings me to the conclusion that it must be a registry issue. at least in my case i think. any thoughts???

Same sort of problem. I have a 3 screen setup for Flight Simulation running a Matrox Parhelia card. I updated the drivers from the net then everytime I boot the screens build as normal then after 10 secondes the icons dissappear (with beebs from the computer) to an empty desktop. The mouse works, but no right click, no Crt+alt+Del…… nothing. The only thing to do is reboot. Over 3 days it has booted up properly 2 or 3 times. Will NOT boot into safe mode. Getting desperate, any advice please

you might want to try this, copy explorer.exe from other computer (same OS) then paste it in c:/windows/(your comp)
i once have nearly same prob, the explorer didn’t start at all, just plain wallpaper it looked like my explorer.exe corrupt.

I met the same trouble as you ,maybe some viruses are the cause .After scanning
and killing virus by ‘avg antivirus ‘ the problem was solved.

I to have the same problem, The PC boots up then the icons and task bar start flashing on and off, stays off sometimes, can only get on using the task manager. Scanned with AVG, Spy-Bot S&D,and with others, defraged. System restore has no restore points, and cant boot in safe mode.Also tried using the MS C/D that didnt work either.

what other things to try,,

please help.

cheers

Bio–

We have another answer at http://www.askageek.com/2008/02/06/desktop-icons-randomly-appear-and-disappear/ that might be of help but if that does not help I fear the next best step is probably to reinsall Windows.

Thanks
Matt

I’m having alot of trouble with this also, It first started with my icons disappearing, i could’t get them to come back and i had to completely reformat my pc. After i freshly reformatted and reistalled windows 2k, my icons now costantly disapear and the my pc freezes. i have tried everythig to get my pc to work right, can anyone help?

I got the same problem, when I install advance windows care and try to fix the problem that program is telling. after i reboot my desktop icons and taskbar is disappearing and back after a few secs no right click on the desktop. Only the task manager is available to use. I tried to scan it with norton antivirus 2008 but there are no virus found. tried some anti-spyware and it didn’t work too. can anyone help me on this?.

I’ve tried scanning my comp with avg, avast, spybot, norton, kaspersky, comodo, and avast found some trojans on my comp. but it didn’t fix the problem at all! Help

plus I can’t open computer cus it keeps on dissapearing

Have you guys cleaned the inside of your pcs lately?

we are having the same problem with a laptop. we’ve tried numerous fixes and nothing has worked. we tried the defrag, and error check but nothing happened. we’ve ordered new recovery disk from gateway that should be here in a couple of days. has anyone at all found the solution to this problem???????

Hey Robert,

You have told us to go to safe mode and run the scans, but in safe mode, the icons dissappear/re-appear again just like in normal windows mode. Anyone help?

Thank you,, your help shall be appreciated.

Justin, Joanie, and Tejas–

At some point there are no other programs you can run to try to clean your system so you just have to bite the bullet and reinstall the operating system. Especially Justin, it seems like you are there because there are not many other programs that can help.

Sorry for the bad news but the good news is that starting from scratch should help. Just be careful moving forward in terms of what you download and make sure to have a backup plan in place.

Thanks
Matt

hey Matt,

does re-installing my OS re-format my hardrive? I have some of data and personal files on the hardrive, so does the reinstallation of my OS (windows xp SP2) cause the whole hardrive to be formatted?

thanks
Tejas

disregard my last post there Matt, as i have found a solution

this also may help all you others who are expierncing the same problem

after you log on and your icons/taskbar disappear, do Ctr+alt+del and click file>new task

type in regedit.exe

go to these folders in the exact order as they are listed

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

then

Software

then

Microsoft

then

Windows NT

then

Current Version

then just click on winlogon, don’t expand it

then locate Shell on the right-hand side, right click and change its value to explorer.exe if it isn’t already. mine was already explorer.exe, but i retyped it and entered it and it worked.

then restart your computer and hopefully this will all work for you!

Tejas-

Reinstalling your operating system will cause you to lose all your information on your computer. It does not reformat it unless you request that to happen in the process but you will lose all your data.

Also thank you for the tip I hope it helps out some of our other readers.

Thanks
Matt

ok so pretty much today sucks. so im siting here being bored playing with FL studio when all of a sudden my icons and start bar disappear. and i have called geeks apon geeks and they couldnt help me i have tried everything on here and nothings worked. i have come to the conclusion that it is a explorer / shell problem but the regedit isnt working so i dont know. and i absolutely can not restore my sestem because i have very import shit.. and its unreplaceable so ya im screwed huh. please if ANYONE has any alternatives please let me know. austinhicks42@msn.com and if you will please title the email RE. COMP i will appreciate it. i just get hella junk mail so i want to know the difference thank you again.

-austin

I resolved my problem guys.. All you have to do is keep using it for a month or two windows update will automatic detect it.. Its a trojan virus.. Just scan always for your antivirus and updates from windows.. I just cant believe it.. I night while I’m surfing it autorestart and said that there is a virus.. Would you believe that I didn’t do anything.. just maintain my norton antivirus and updates… so guys dont worry… this virus wont last long in your pcs.. Or if you cant wait to do this just simply reformat your pc I guess..

Sorry if my English is bad. I’m Cypriot.

I had the same problem 3 days ago. The problems started when I install to my laptop an antivirus called bitdefender. Every time I tried to open my Computer, the Blue error screen was coming up and tell me “UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT”. When I fixed this problem and I start my computer, the Taskbar and the Desktop icons disappeared every 10 seconds, until the disappear for good.

I have tried many ways to fix the problem but nothing. First I Scan my computer with “AVG 7.5″ and “Norton 360″,but nothing. Then I Scan my computer with “XoftSpySE”, again nothing. Scan with “RegistryFix” and “RegCure” nothing. I performed all the actions in “TuneUp Utilities 2008″, ScanDisk, defragment, restore and many others but nothing, nothing and again nothing. Yesterday I find a CD called “spotmau powersuite professional 2008″ but again nothing happens. I tried to copy the file called “explorer.exe” from my sisters computer and paste to mine, but I only accomplished to make my taskbar and icons to go ON|OFF for ever and never stoped for good.
At the end I’ve tried to Update my windows, and as I was searching the Internet for Tips on how to fix this error, I found an antivirus program called “CA Antivirus” and I decided to Install it to my Computer. After I ;ve install the antivirus to my computer the computer asked me to restart. After i restart it the problem was fixed

My desktop icons and toolbar are continuously disappearing and reappearing every 5 seconds. They disappear together and then appear again together. They don’t show up when i turn on my laptop. But even when i run explorer.exe through task manager, the things mentioned above occur. Spybot,avg and some windows malware remover have managed to get rid of a trojan virus for me. I’ve also retyped my shell value and done a defragmentation, an error-checking and a system restore. What else can i do?
I can’t reinstall windows because i’ve lost my windows installation cd and cannot rmb my serial no.
Please help me!
Thank you

wow that really worked thanks anyways

It is the Virtumundo virus and is sometimes called other things. It doesn’t show up with many popular spyware or antivirus utilities. I used spybot-search and destroy and then a utility called VirtumundoBeGone. Both can be found with a search or two. That is if you quickly get on the internet somehow. If I can do it anybody could. Just don’t give up and loose patience. I thank the people who spent time and effort to write these fixes. They will be rewarded for their kindness. Please work to do good things in everything you do.