when you boot up you get no desktop, no icons. If you press CTR-Alt-Del you get task manager and can run programs. Looks like explorer.exe cannot run. Even if you try to run as a new task it will not run.

Does this happen for just one or specific profiles? Or is it all profiles? Soylent Green is PEOPLE!!!

This is for all profiles, even new created users. It looks like the explorer.exe does not work. We tried to copy the explorer.exe from the Cd and still have the same problems.

is this a laptop? If so, hit fn F7 (or whatever hotkey is assigned to toggle monitors). Check display properties as well

I already connected laptop to another monitor and no difference. I can go into display panel and change the settings and still get the same problem.

it sounds like you have a virus or other infection (adware/spyware) that is preventing explorer.exe from running. boot up and close every program that starts with windows. hit shift+ctrl+esc and check your processes. look for anything supicious, like something that says 'ad' 'surf' or anything like that and end it. if you dont know what something is just type it into google with the file extension (for example: "lsass.exe") and make sure its not bad. After this try starting explorer.exe again. If it still wont start you can run a repair with your win2k cd and that should fix it. -freddy

Right click on your screen where there would be no icons, go to Active Desktop, left click on Show Desktop. Larry Today seems like a good day to chew through the restraints.