Every so often I get a blank desktop on startup. This has been happening to me for some time.

At one point, I was able to work around by turning off the computer, turning it on, then turning it off at the Black Windows XP loading screen, then turning it on to get options screen, then selected "Log onto Windows Normally" and it would startup and work fine.

However, lately it has reverted back to the older behaviour. I restart my computer, desktop is blank. I have to startup in safe mode and use system restore to get things working again.

When desktop goes blank, I can use task manager to stop and start explorer, but none of my taskbar icons load up. Also, when the problem occurs, I can't log off off Windows without turning off my computer. It hangs on "saving your settings."

My research tells me that Windows Update might be part of the problem.

Does anybody have any suggestions? I work using my home computer, and these startup problems are costing me time and money.

Help!

You could try a System Restore to a point prior to the start of this problem. You might want to disable automatic updates afterward if things correct themselves.

1-Are you running IE 6 0r IE7?
2-Do you have SP2 installed?
3-Do you have the latest critical up-dates?
4-What AV are you using?
5-Have you done all the Spyware checks?

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A trawl in google using:

blank desktop on windows XP

as the string, produces a range of hits; this is one with a typical range of possibilities... (Note also the 2 M$ KB refs within the link below.)

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.co...

And there are many other assorted hits that may offer a solution...

Hi everyone. As an update, I turned off Windows update and it seemed to work. However, I downloaded and installed a video game, and the problem occurred again. I did a system restore, did a registry cleanup with Abexo free cleaner, downloaded and installed the program again, and was able to start my computer properly.

However, as I was playing the video game, and was twitching with graphical settings, the game hung my computer. So I turned off my machine without logging off, turned it back on, and the same problem occurred.

Obviously, installing new programs or updates screws up the startup, and I think it has something to do with the registry.

So, I'm still trying to isolate the problem, and still open to some solutions.

trvlr, I have tried some solutions from that page. My only concern there is that the guy couldn't even do a system restore from safe mode. I can, each and every time, but I lose newly installed programs in the process.

From your update there is clearly "sumat amiss" in your current XP installation; thought quite what - it may be well nigh impossible to resolve?

Sadly (at work) when we have issues with hanging on shutdown, or problems with desktop loading etc. (they happen only very occasionally - fortunately) the general path is to re-image the drive; that being the cost effective solution as opposed to a repair installation or a standard re-installation etc... However, as a result of the cost-effective approach, one seldom discovers the exact cause of the problem.

I think... (he sed...) I'd run a non-destructive repair installation... and see what happens after that...

If that fails then a full/standard re-installation...

In both scenarios I'd first save all data etc. off the drive entirely; and verify those (optical) copies are truly readable/accessible first.

If/once all is OK..., and after creating a new restore point, see what happens when you install something new... - be that a game or whatever?

You suggest the problem is costing you time/money... Thus the cost effective approach may be the path to go on this occasion; abandoning the academic aspect in the process?

Update:

After thinking the problem is resolved, it came back again. No new installed programs either.

There's something happening between a clean startup and a bad one that's causing the problem, apparently, and I don't know what it is. I scheduled Windows Update for once a week, so I don't think that's it either. Could it be another program updating itself? Security software?

I've tried several remedies, most of which were listed at the link above, and none have worked so far. I'll continue to research, and I'm open to more suggestions. Sigh.

For anyone who has the same problem and wants a solution, I can describe to you what seems to have worked for me. Basically, I did a repair installation. You can find the instructions here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Again, my problem was on-and-off, but continuous. Now it seems fine. So, my very amateur guess is that it was a corrupted registry, or a problem with windows update, or both.

Regarding the repair installation, follow the instructions carefully. Make sure you un-install Daemon before starting, or else updating your set up files at the start of the re-installation will be stopped, and you don't want to skip and do without the necessary files. I tried, got stuck, and was lucky to get back into my Windows to start all over again. You should be OK if you just proceed cautiously and follow all the instructions carefully.

Also, there are times during the repair installation where the computer seems to freeze, but it's not. The worst part for me was when it says it's registering components and there's 13 minutes left. Well, it took about a half hour and nothing seemed to be happening. I even started over again because I thought it was frozen. But it's not. It just takes a while, that's all. About an hour altogether.

By the way, as of right now, once you do a repair installation, Windows will let you download updates, but not install them. You can get the fix here: http://windowssecrets.com/2007/09/2...

I may have been careless with my computer, which led to the problem in the first place. I will proceed with greater caution in the future.

However, even with that, I just think that maintaining and repairing an operating system should be much easier than this.

Anyhow, I hope this helps someone else.

Oh, and if you're going to do the in-place upgrade repair installation like I did, make sure you have your Windows activation key with you. Mine was located on the side of my computer. If you bought Windows software separately, it will be with the installation CD package. Good luck.