Windows XP desktop icons gooonnnnneeee

**slick1** · 13-12-08, 03:08 AM

Hi all.

i've received 2 calls from my mates saying that when they boot their PC up which are both running XP, their desktop icons are gone and also the start button.

Has anybody heard of this before? i guess its a virus of some kind.

Any help appriciated.

Thanks
SLick1

**best4less** · 13-12-08, 03:12 AM

I have had that a couple of times and rebooting the computer got them back and then i ran a registry cleaner and all has been good since

I think it was registry mechanic I used

**thatslife** · 13-12-08, 03:45 AM

There is a virus around that wipes off icons and exe files do a system restore, if xp only has one restore point, then that’s that bloody dreaded virus, it would be easier to clean system completely

**Mysterex** · 13-12-08, 12:59 PM

there is a backdoor to the malware that locks you out with policies that remove access to desktop icons, start menu, regedit, taskmanager etc

right click on your desktop, new shortcut

make the shortcut cmd.exe or explorer.exe etc

then you can access your USB or DVD drive and install the usual goodies - Malware bytes, SuperAntiSpyware etc

enjoy...

**cd_toaster** · 13-12-08, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysterex

there is a backdoor to the malware that locks you out with policies that remove access to desktop icons, start menu, regedit, taskmanager etc

right click on your desktop, new shortcut

make the shortcut cmd.exe or explorer.exe etc

then you can access your USB or DVD drive and install the usual goodies - Malware bytes, SuperAntiSpyware etc

enjoy...

do windows shortcuts such as windows + e and windows + r still run as well?

**Mysterex** · 13-12-08, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cd_toaster

do windows shortcuts such as windows + e and windows + r still run as well?

nope not in the ones i've come across - they use policy editor to lock it all out - you can't access control panel or any administrative tools either

**slick1** · 13-12-08, 07:10 PM

thats spot on Misterex.

you cant right mouse click or anything like that so theres no going back to a restore point. The only thing you can do is go into task manager.

**ssrattus** · 13-12-08, 07:41 PM

Can you go back to a restore point via safe mode? Hit F8 several times on boot up and you get an option to go back to a restore point.

**slick1** · 13-12-08, 10:08 PM

hitting F8 is ignored. once you press F8, it just chugs along into the normal screen which displays the the desktop picture and nothing else. No icons, start button.

**ssrattus** · 13-12-08, 10:31 PM

hmmm... that's unusual. Check out there are a few different ways of getting into safe mode.

ie using msconfig

Quote:

How to get into Safe mode by the System Configuration Utility

* 1. Got to your Start menu and select “Run” option.
* 2. Type in msconfig command and click OK. The System Configuration Utility program will then open.
* 3. Select the BOOT.INI tab located at the top of the System Configuration Utility window.
* 4. Check the box labeled /SAFEBOOT and click OK.
* 5. When asked if you prefer to restart the PC immediately, or Exit Without Restart, choose to restart the computer manually.
* 6. Your computer will automatically boot into Windows XP Safe Mode when you will restart it.
* 7. When you are done with Safe Mode, go to the Start menu again and select Run option. Type in msconfig *and click OK.
* 8. Select the Normal Startup radio button and click OK.
* 9. When asked if you prefer to restart the PC immediately, or Exit Without Restart, choose to restart the computer manually.
* 10. Your computer will boot into Normal mode the next time you switch it on.

**slick1** · 14-12-08, 12:31 AM

thanks for that but i cant get in. Nothing works. F8 doesn't work, i cant get to the start menu so i cant get into MSCONFIG because its not shown. Only the desktop picture is shown. No start menu, no task bar, nothing...

can i get to the start menu if i boot off he windows XP disk?

**WhiteOx** · 14-12-08, 08:28 AM

I had this happen to a mates pc about a year ago, I can't remember how I fixed it but there is a way without doing a re-format.
If I can remember what I done I'll post the solution.

**fandtm666** · 14-12-08, 08:42 AM

try

ctrl-alt-delete and see if in the task manager if you still have explorer.exe running.

If not then that is the issue so you can try

**slick1** · 14-12-08, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the link guys but it still didn't work. When i reboot the PC, the icons are gone and i have to start explorer via task manager.

Would a system restore point work?

What if i install Kaspersky? would that detect the virus and remove it?

Thanks
Slick1

**joezep** · 14-12-08, 11:40 PM

Try hitting F5 had an asus motherboard and thats how i got into safe mode

13-12-08, 03:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
slick1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	Windows XP desktop icons gooonnnnneeee Hi all. i've received 2 calls from my mates saying that when they boot their PC up which are both running XP, their desktop icons are gone and also the start button. Has anybody heard of this before? i guess its a virus of some kind. Any help appriciated. Thanks SLick1

13-12-08, 03:12 AM	#2
best4less I'am Not a Bloody Joke Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Australia Age: 45 Posts: 5,150 Thanks: 1,093 Thanked 562 Times in 308 Posts Rep Power: 130	I have had that a couple of times and rebooting the computer got them back and then i ran a registry cleaner and all has been good since I think it was registry mechanic I used __________________ Shut Up I Hack You

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13-12-08, 03:45 AM	#3
thatslife Premium Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Aus Posts: 236 Thanks: 45 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts Rep Power: 7	There is a virus around that wipes off icons and exe files do a system restore, if xp only has one restore point, then that’s that bloody dreaded virus, it would be easier to clean system completely

13-12-08, 12:59 PM	#4
Mysterex Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port Lincoln Posts: 282 Thanks: 13 Thanked 58 Times in 38 Posts Rep Power: 10	there is a backdoor to the malware that locks you out with policies that remove access to desktop icons, start menu, regedit, taskmanager etc right click on your desktop, new shortcut make the shortcut cmd.exe or explorer.exe etc then you can access your USB or DVD drive and install the usual goodies - Malware bytes, SuperAntiSpyware etc enjoy...

13-12-08, 07:10 PM	#7
slick1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	thats spot on Misterex. you cant right mouse click or anything like that so theres no going back to a restore point. The only thing you can do is go into task manager.

13-12-08, 07:41 PM	#8
ssrattus Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,659 Thanks: 88 Thanked 170 Times in 108 Posts Rep Power: 25	Can you go back to a restore point via safe mode? Hit F8 several times on boot up and you get an option to go back to a restore point.

13-12-08, 10:08 PM	#9
slick1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	hitting F8 is ignored. once you press F8, it just chugs along into the normal screen which displays the the desktop picture and nothing else. No icons, start button.

14-12-08, 12:31 AM	#11
slick1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	thanks for that but i cant get in. Nothing works. F8 doesn't work, i cant get to the start menu so i cant get into MSCONFIG because its not shown. Only the desktop picture is shown. No start menu, no task bar, nothing... can i get to the start menu if i boot off he windows XP disk?

14-12-08, 08:28 AM	#12
WhiteOx Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Newcastle, Nsw Posts: 1,530 Thanks: 106 Thanked 437 Times in 148 Posts Rep Power: 25	I had this happen to a mates pc about a year ago, I can't remember how I fixed it but there is a way without doing a re-format. If I can remember what I done I'll post the solution.

14-12-08, 08:42 AM	#13
fandtm666 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,664 Thanks: 0 Thanked 30 Times in 14 Posts Rep Power: 37	try ctrl-alt-delete and see if in the task manager if you still have explorer.exe running. If not then that is the issue so you can try

14-12-08, 10:15 PM	#14
slick1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 141 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Rep Power: 5	Thanks for the link guys but it still didn't work. When i reboot the PC, the icons are gone and i have to start explorer via task manager. Would a system restore point work? What if i install Kaspersky? would that detect the virus and remove it? Thanks Slick1

14-12-08, 11:40 PM	#15
joezep Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Melbourne Posts: 367 Thanks: 57 Thanked 46 Times in 28 Posts Rep Power: 12	Try hitting F5 had an asus motherboard and thats how i got into safe mode