All icons are missing on desktop

All desktop icons, files and shortcuts are missing from the desktop after login. All that is visible is the wallpaper. there is no taskbar. there is nothing to select. Right clicking on the desktop does not bring up any menu.
The only thing I can do is to press ctrl alt and delete to bring up the task manager. By selecting new task I can open some applications.
The operating system is Windows XP - Home Edition. Any ideas what may have happened and how I can get these icons back.

 

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What happens when you bring up the task manager, go to file, run and type in explorer ?

 

ooooooooo lol i misread his post its nothing to do with the icon cache

it has everything to do with a problem in explorer, it crashes at login by the sounds of it. have you got a virus??

if you carry out as was suggested to run explorer, see if it works, then browse areoud and see if it crashes again.

try using a registry fixing application.

 

Thanks for the reply Morph416 and Phantom69.

I brought up task manager and ran Explorer ?

My Internet Explorer ran fine, I was able to browse and it did not crash on me. When I was finished I closed Explorer and I still do not have any icons on my desktop.

I originally lost all my icons after I completed a deep file scan using Spyware Doctor. I had a Backdoor Trojan Horse that Norton would not delete. (I did not try the Norton in Safe Mode).

I've also tried going back to a Last Known Good Configuration but that does not work either.

By the way, what is a registry fixing application and how do I get one?

 

by the sounds of it, you ran [bold]ieexplorer.exe[/bold] not [bold]explorer.exe[/bold] explorer.exe is the main executable in the windows os that allows you to navvigate.


A registry fixing application will scan throughout your registry thoroghly and check for any errors there are there and attempt to fix them. some popular ones are:
RegistryFix
CCleaner
PCResuce
TuneUP Utilities
Advanced Windows Optimizer

preferably the first two

 

Thanks Phantom69.

Your right, I did run IE Explorer. My mistake.

I just went and ran explorer.exe and I can navigate through my folders and files. I can even start some of my software, such as MS-Word, etc. But I cannot drag any shortcuts to my desktop.

Should I just go ahead and clean the registry, or do you have any other suggestions for repairing this problem.

 

well fixing the registry will not harm your computer, you can only try and see if it fixes the problem.

other than this alternative i dont think i know how to fix your problem.

sorry dude