No icons or taskbar!

[SuRichardson]

I have a pc running windows XP professional that hasn't been used for about four weeks. Now when it is switched on it just shows the desktop background picture - there are no icons, taskbars or anything and if you move the mouse around nothing happens - ie the taskbar isn't just hidden - so you don't get a start option. Any ideas anyone?

[Ethel]

Hold CTRL, Alt, delete together to open the task manager.


Click File -run. Type

explorer.exe

in the box. If nothing happens, reboot.

[ACtheTROLL]

whu??

I think what it is is that well known hide inactive icons option
there are two seperate items - both of which need attention.

right click the desktop | properties | desktop | customise desktop
take the tick out of run desktop ckeanup

then
right klick on the taskbar
properties | taskbar
take the tick out of hide inactive icons.
http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=h ide+inactive+icons&mkt=en-gb


why oh why oh why MS thought these were a good idea I have no idea.

I'm having a bit of a grey moment - I'm damned if i can remember how to restore the ones that have gone ....