I had originally thought my mother-in-law's desktop computer issues was a hardware issue, so I posted about it in the hardware forum:
http://www.geekpolice.net/hardware-f7/desktop-computer-won-t-do-anything-from-desktopsits-there-with-hourglass-t8694.htm
Now, I'm thinking otherwise (but not sure).
I'm wondering if the explorer.exe is corrupt and if it may have gotten corrupt by a virus or something.
When windows is booted up normally, it briefly has the black screen with white letters about giving a choice to boot Windows XP Home (highlighted) or Recovery Console but it's real quick and then boots to Windows normally. When it does...it's like it doesn't finish booting up or something. It goes to desktop with all the icons and such but it won't let me go to anything...no programs, no start menu...nothing. Clicking it does nothing.
When the cursor is moved to the task bar, it's just an hour glass like it's busy but never nothing comes up. Even booting it back up without trying to click for it to go to anything...it just sits there like it's busy when the cursor is moved to the taskbar...it's just an hourglass.
Can't click the Start menu to go to anything. Pressing the Windows key doesn't do anything.
I am able to bring up the Task manager. Actually, that's the only way I can restart it or shut it down unless I turn it off manually.
When going into safe mode, the hourglass isn't there and I am able to go into the control panel, but then when I click on anything there in the control panel...nothing happens. Actually, the option I picked just sits there highlighted like it was clicked but it never comes up. Then, I"m not able to click on the "X" to close out the control panel to close it. I have to do Control-Alt-Delete to end task to get out of control panel.
Also, I've already tried Windows update and Anti-virus and some anti-spyware programs....from safe mode (I'm not able to do anything in normal mode), but it just does nothing except that box comes up letting me know it's in safe mode...to proceed in safe mode.
http://www.geekpolice.net/hardware-f7/desktop-computer-won-t-do-anything-from-desktopsits-there-with-hourglass-t8694.htm
Now, I'm thinking otherwise (but not sure).
I'm wondering if the explorer.exe is corrupt and if it may have gotten corrupt by a virus or something.
When windows is booted up normally, it briefly has the black screen with white letters about giving a choice to boot Windows XP Home (highlighted) or Recovery Console but it's real quick and then boots to Windows normally. When it does...it's like it doesn't finish booting up or something. It goes to desktop with all the icons and such but it won't let me go to anything...no programs, no start menu...nothing. Clicking it does nothing.
When the cursor is moved to the task bar, it's just an hour glass like it's busy but never nothing comes up. Even booting it back up without trying to click for it to go to anything...it just sits there like it's busy when the cursor is moved to the taskbar...it's just an hourglass.
Can't click the Start menu to go to anything. Pressing the Windows key doesn't do anything.
I am able to bring up the Task manager. Actually, that's the only way I can restart it or shut it down unless I turn it off manually.
When going into safe mode, the hourglass isn't there and I am able to go into the control panel, but then when I click on anything there in the control panel...nothing happens. Actually, the option I picked just sits there highlighted like it was clicked but it never comes up. Then, I"m not able to click on the "X" to close out the control panel to close it. I have to do Control-Alt-Delete to end task to get out of control panel.
Also, I've already tried Windows update and Anti-virus and some anti-spyware programs....from safe mode (I'm not able to do anything in normal mode), but it just does nothing except that box comes up letting me know it's in safe mode...to proceed in safe mode.