Can't logon to Windows???

My father in law gave me his laptop as an extra but he told me that it doesn't work and maybe I could get it to work. I don't know a whole lot about computers but I follow directions pretty well. Please help!
When I power on the computer it does the Windows XP home edition screen with the running thing letting you know it is loading. Then the logon screen comes up with 3 names. Apparently the computer has worked in the past because my husbands name is on it. I logged onto his (as well as all the others when his didn't seem to work) and all I see it a Dell background...no icons. I am able to bring up the task manager but I don't really know what to do with it. Incase you need to know, it is a Dell Inspiron 2650 supposedly running Windows XP.
Thanks!

it sounds like Explorer is not running.

TRY:
open task manager
click "File"
click "New Task (Run...)"
then in the box type "explorer.exe" and press enter.

sometimes doing that will fix it for next time you log on, so you dont have to keep doing it.

Nope, I supposedly log on, hear the music, see the Dell screen and nothing. It says, when I typed in explorer.exe, "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options control panel." I have received that error for ALMOST everything that I type in under run.

hmmm... sounds like all the file associations have messed up.

try and run "CMD" in task manager, if that works.
then in the "CMD" type in "sfc /scannow"

if you are able to this, wait for it to finish then reboot.

see if this works, and i will see if i can think of a solution in the mean time

also can you successfully boot into safe mode?

Just checking...go to file, new task (run...), and type in CMD? If that is the case, it gives me the same error.
As for entering safe mode, it's just a black screen. I don't even get the Dell background. I can still open the task manager though.

yeah that was correct.

i think i know how to fix it but as your so limited to what you can do, i am having great difficulty thinking of a way around it.

Maybe a system format is on the horizon for this machine

I follow directions really well so if any geeks have ideas, I'm all ears. Please...!

Bnasexton:

Did your father-in-law give you a restore disk? If so, I think the best thing to do is to simply put it in & boot the computer from it. I'm not 1 to just randomly kill all data on a computer, but since it wasn't yours & you don't have data on it, that really seems to me to be the quickest solution. I'm thinking doing anything else will probably take more time than it's worth & may very well still not fix the problem.

If Dad doesn't have such a disk, then a) it might be on a separate partition such as d: or b) you might be able to order 1 from Dell.

You could also try hitting f8 as the computer starts & see if a repair/recovery option is available, but I really think at this point the restore disk is the best bet.

He did not give me any disks. I personally have a Dell Inspiron 1501 where the one he gave me is a 2650. I have these disks from my computer: an Operating System Disk (it says Reinstallation DVD for Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Version 2005 with Update Rollup) and a Drivers and Utilities Disk (it says for Reinstalling Dell Inspiron 1501 Computer Software). Will these work. Again, I'm not very computer literate but I do follow directions pretty well so sorry for the dumb questions. Anyway, these are the only 2 disks I could find for my computer (besides different programs to load later...Roxio, Microsoft Works Suite 2006, etc.) In the meantime, until I hear from someone here, I will check the prices of restore disks for that particular computer.

OK...I wanted to add that I tried the Operating System Disk because it doesn't specify a particular Inspiron. It just says "For Distribution Only With a New Dell PC." When you power on the laptop you can enter the BIOS by hitting F2. I went to the boot screen and made CD-ROM first. Not sure if it should have a ! in front of it or not. I had that option by clicking Shift 1. Anyway, I tried it both ways. One way did nothing more than start me like normal by going to the Windows log on screen...I pick my username, hear the music and then get the Dell background with nothing else...no icons. Sill I can get into the task manager. The other way I tried it, it told me operating system not found. Um...I thought I was trying to boot from the disk. I didn't even get an option to press any key to boot from disk. What did I do wrong?

Bnasexton:

a) The only stupid question is the 1 u needed to ask & didn't;
b) The disks are likely incompatible as they are keyed to the type of computer;
c) Did the disk say what operating system this was & does it indicate whether it's bootable? Better yet, what does the label actually say?

If I were u I'd check w/Dell regarding the price of restore disks. Generally these do not run more than 10-15 USD. Pain in the u-know-where, but fairly inexpensive for a newer computer, if u wanna look at it that way.

Have a blessed evening.

OK...the disk says "Operating System" at the top. Then it says "Reinstallation DVD Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Version 2005 with Update Rollup 2." It says "The software is already installed on your computer. Only use this DVD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell PC." AND it says "For Distrubution Only With a New Dell PC."
In the BIOS screen I set it up to read the CD-ROM first. It shows that the CD-ROM is recognized but when it restarts I don't get the option to boot from the CD. Also, I know that on some computers you can click F12 to give you the option to boot from the CD. I hit F12 and it did give me a different screen. Went by to fast to read and record it but something about cntrl+alt+del...nothing about the option to boot from CD. Ugh! I guess I'm checking out Dell for a specific restore disk. What a pain! If anyone else has any ideas, I'm awake. UGH!

Evening, Bnasexton:

We're almost becoming friends here! Lol. 1 concern I've got is that the disk u have is evidently a dvd. Is the drive u put it in also a dvd or just a cd-rom?

U know, the other thing I'd do if I were u is to go to the Dell website, click the support link, & then look for the userguide of this new machine. It might well tell u how to get into the boot menu, etc., as well as give guidance regarding obtaining restore disks, etc.

I'll bet it's just a cd-rom although I'm not really sure how to tell other than everything says cd-rom and not DVD. I have gone to the Dell website and requested backup CD's??? It says that they will send out 1 "complimentary" but only 1. lol. I wasn't sure about the name backup CD but everything I've read has said that this is the reinstallation CD because this computer was running Windows XP Home Edition and the disk I had was for Windows XP Media Center Version 2005. Wow! I'm really learning a lot on this site. I have the other laptop that had some serious malware issues...so much so that everything shut down. I had to delete files and visit the registery file (which scared the crap out of me) and much, much more. Thank God, finally everything is working on MY laptop as it should. Now, if only I can get this other one working. Just for the heck of it, I'm going to leave this topic open and I'll let you know, abletec, how it turns out...seeing how we are friends now. HAHA!!!!

Bnasexton, I've been a computer technician for nearly 20 years now. & guess what? Editing the registry still scares the crap out of me & much, much more as well. Lol. I always get this really really sick feeling in my stomach when I've gotta do it, &, though I've never brought a machine down yet from a wrong edit, (maybe I shouldn't have just said that), that possibility always remains on my mind. I remember once I was helpin this lady in England clean up from some malware & I had to instruct her how to edit the registry & I don't think I breathed till she contacted me & said everything had gone all right.

You're ordering the right thing. If they close the topic, pm me. I'd like to know how u fare, &/or if u need my help again.