No Desktop, Just Blue Screen At Startup

Hi, I recently encountered what appeared to be a virus problem and went into Safe Mode to run Malwarebytes. After coming back to startup, I received a blue screen instead of Desktop. Please help me get back to my Desktop! Thanks!

I suggest that you try running a chkdsk from your install disk.

Follow these steps:

•When you turn on your computer, watch your computer screen for a Boot Option key. If one is not available, use the key for Setup.

•You want to boot from your install disk. If you were able to get the Boot Option screen, select the CD drive. If you had to go to the Setup screen, set the CD to be the first boot device.

•Put your Windows XP CD in your DVD/CD Rom and start your computer.

•When you get this message - Press any key to boot from CD, press the Enter key (or any other key) on your keyboard.

•Let your Setup begin, do not press anything.

•When you receive the message to press R to repair Windows by using the Recovery Console, press the R key.

•Select the Windows installation that you want (it's usually 1), and then type the administrator password when prompted. If you don't have a password, just press the Enter key.

•At the recovery console command prompt, type the following command, and then press the Enter key:

CHKDSK /r

Chkdsk will run and look for hard drive problem. It may take 30 minutes to a few hours depending on the size of your hard drive.

When chkdsk is finished, remove the install disk and restart your computer.

Sorry for the delay. I just checked back for the first time. I usually get notification of a reply by email.

I don't have an install disk. There was no disk with the purchase of my computer. Is there another solution? Thanks so much for your reply!

Try running it from Windows:

Hold the Windows key and press the R key.

Type 'cmd' without the quote in the box and hit the ENTER key.

When the cmd.exe window comes up, type 'chkdsk /r' without the quote after the > prompt. It should come back saying it can't lock the drive and ask if want to check the next time the system starts.

Type a Y and hit the enter key.

When you restart chkdsk will run and look for hard drive problems. It may take 30 minutes to a few hours depending on the size of your hard drive.


Restart your computer.

I still have the blue screen, after running the suggested technique.

Maybe I misunderstood your issue. You said you have a blue screen and I assuned that you don't have desktop icons or anything else, just a plain blue screen.

You may have corrupted system files.

• Is there anything else wrong with your computer?
  
• Do you have icons on your desktop?
  
• Do you have the taskbar at the bottom of your screen?
  
• What operating system are you using? Windows XP, Vista, 7?

You have the correct information. I don't have a Desktop showing, just a blue screen. There's nothing else wrong with the computer, I have a taskbar showing and I'm using Windows XP.

Try right-clicking on the desktop, go down to Properties, and Desktop > Customize. Add My Compuuter and Recycle Bin to the desktop icons. Does that work?

Note: I may not have the directions exact because I'm not on an XP machine right now. I'm doing this from memory.

I have no Desktop. Nothing shows when I left or right click.

A few things to try:

• Create a new user account and see if that account works
  
• Bring up Task Manager. You can to that be right click the Taskbar and selecting Task Manager. From Task Manager, go to FILE and NEW TASK (Run ...) and type in explorer.exe then hit the ENTER key.
  
• Reboot in Safe Mode. You can do that by tapping the F8 key after restarting but before Windows comes up. Select Safe Mode.

See if any of the above work.

I ran Malwarebytes and got some icons back but some did not reappear. I also re-downloaded my anti-virus software because it was no longer available. Running it did nothing more, unfortunately. The latter two items you suggested do allow me to gain access to my Desktop but I really need access at startup. I'll be checking back. I appreciate your help.

If booting to Safe Mode worked then you may still have some malware issues. Suggest you post something in the malware removal forum.

I didn't get anything new in Safe Mode. I'd already run Malwarebytes. I have the same few icons on my Desktop as I did when not in Safe Mode.

When you said

The latter two items you suggested do allow me to gain access to my Desktop

What two items were you referring to? I assumed 1) running explorer from the Task Manager and 2) booting to Safe Mode.

Yes those are the two I'm referring to.

Here's why I'm confused looking at your posts:

The latter two items you suggested do allow me to gain access to my Desktop

I didn't get anything new in Safe Mode.

Please tell me what happened in Saf Mode because at first it seemed that Safe Mode worked, but then later you said Safe Mode didn't work.

Botton line: If you have a Desktop in Safe Mode, but not in Normal Mode, you may have some malware on your computer.

This is what happened. I ran MalwareBytes before doing anything suggested to see if it would help. It allowed me to regain access to some icons on my Desktop. I also re-downloaded my anti-virus software because I had no icon and could not get access. I got the exact same results with nothing new found. I then went into Safe Mode and also tested your other suggestion with the same results, nothing new.
Safe Mode doesn't give me access to my Desktop as it was before I got the blue screen. It's still blank in Safe Mode with the exception of the few icons I now have because of my running MalwareBytes.

So things are changing. I do think you should post this in the malware forum just to make sure Malwarebytes and your anitvirus software found everything. I'm hoping that you don't have your Windows corrupted to the point where you may have to reinstall.

Will do! Thanks for everything. Hope to get to the bottom of this real soon. :-)