im on windows xp,also not amazing with the technical areas of computing, help would be great folks my desktop and taskbar constatly click on and off, all the icons on my desktop disappear and sometimes the only way to open programs is by the task manager, also, my pc takes forever to shut down. i have scanned for viruses = nothing and i have downloaded and tried adware, spydoctor, superantispyware, vudofix, smitfraudfix etc with no results and the problem remains, and is getting worse. i also dont have the windows xp cd, can anyone advise, id be very grateful, thank you

I would suggest to disconnect the PC from the Internet first. Then start Windows XP in secure mode. Did the desktop come up as expected? Check your program folder for entries of software, you've never installed. Careful: Some of the folders are created by windows itself. Check the services for suspicious entries. After maybe some uninstalls and/or deactivation of suspicious services, restart in normal mode but without internet connection.

thanks, the safe mode is really slow and comes up as a black screen, iv checked the folder and got rid of lots of things i havent used that were not there to start with, booted it back up without the net connection, and it stays the same, no desktop and no taskbar

Hi Geordie , I don't know whats happened to your desktop , but note that you have superantispyware installed , so open it preference's>>>repairs>>>>reset desktop policies , It could work for you Regards

Jackfrost, iv done that and it didnt work, it took ages for the pc to turn off and then back on afterwards, but its a little quicker now after doing what you said but the desktop and taskbar are still coming and going really appreciating the help and ideas

What happens, if you try to create a new user and logon o Windows with this new user. So maybe there is a problem in the profile of the current user, that causes desktop and taskbar disappearing.

Well , If that didn't work try CCleaner this down load comes with out the Yahoo tool bar....unless you want a yahoo tool bar.... http://www.majorgeeks.com/CCleaner_... Check the registry , clean except for programs that run OK , If it ain't broke... also malawarebytes-antimalware the quick scan , just to be sure If all is clean then re post on the XP forum is the best thing to do Regards