hey folks, i was wondering you could possibly help. at the moment, when windows loads the screen freezes on the desktop with no icons and task bar. i attempted Ctrl + ALT and delete. no go. nothing appears. i am able to move cursor and that it. i can safely boot into safe mode and safe mode with networking and is working fine. currently posting this thread from it. i have attempted a system restore with no luck as the desktop still freezes. however, when i go back into safe mode, it states the system restore is incomplete. any help would be very welcome. thanks in advance Caoimhe

Taskbar and Icons missing: Try this: http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/... (Original Message, and Response Number 1 looks like a fix?) Also try this: http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/... and http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/... (That one is a special Posting someone made of how he fixed it.) Another fix is un-quarintene explorer in Spydoctor. ----------------------- This page has alot of XP fixes http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_... Some require the download of a VBS, or Regedits file. So, read at the top of that page-- "To use the Regedits" or "To use the VBS files" Then go to line 195, then click item in right hand column.

thank you for your response, however i cannot access task manager. i have tried my times and it simply will not appear. any more advice would be grateful? i also attempted to run sony vaio recovery tool to run a PC restore within safe mode. its states that it does not recognise the notebook is not recognised as a sony vaio?!?!