I can't supply all the system details because I have no my computer icon to right click on. I just downloaded limewire pro and updated itunes and then had to hard boot my computer. When it came back up, I had not desktop or startup task bar. I can start most programs through the task manager. I found this same topic on this forum but it was locked as it was from 2003. Thanks for any assistance.

chickee_monkee, to see your machine's specs Start>programs>accessories>system tools>system information will produce a list. As for the missing icons, this was copied from another post: "1. Right-click a blank area of your Desktop and select Properties from the resulting menu. 2. You should now be looking at the business end of the Display Properties screen. Hit the Desktop tab, then the little "Customize Desktop" button. 3. Another little screen pops up and the first thing you should see is a section for Desktop Icons. Click the ones you want to appear and you're all set. Note that not only can you choose My Computer, but also My Documents, My Network Places, and (surprise) Internet Explorer. Just put a check next to the ones you want" HTH. Ed in Texas.

"I just downloaded limewire pro" Why? Limewire is high risk software that opens the door to virus/malware infections. Torrents are MUCH safer. "If my answers frighten you then you should cease asking scary questions" - Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction

Well, nothing happens when I right click on the desktop, no drop downs, and I do not have a start up menu, can I get to the start from the task manager or if I open msconfig? It also looks like I do not have exporer and explorer.exe does nothing. As far as limewire pro, had no idea it was high risk or malicious, someone at work recommended it to me and since it cost money to download, I just assumed, (making and *ss of of me, I guess) that it was safe. Any other help would be appreciated. Fixes I have tried, creating a new user profile, running system restore which it can not execute to completion, registry restore... Pulling my hair out...

chickee_monkee, since the possibility of a Trojan exists, think I'd deal with that first. FIRST disable restore (under those same 'system tools'). Then download and update 'Superantispyware' (free @: http://www.superantispyware.com/). Run it and it'll clean any nasties on your machine. Re-enable restore and try again. HTH. Ed in Texas.

is the explorer.exe process running?? It shud b running :) ~~Psychedelic~~

Okay, latest update. I finally had to run the system restore disc, fortunately, I back up to an external drive periodically and it is not a machine I use for anything other than playing around. So back in business with a newly purged hard drive. So, did the system restore take care of any "trojans" as you say? And, I have Norton 360, hate it and disable it all the time because it makes my system really sluggish, I guess I can reinstall it now, but I am due to renew in a month and would like some other suggestions for an anti virus program that I can try? Oh and moot point now, but no, exporer.exe would not run. Spyware and anti virus suggestion are welcomed, does anyone really like Norton and should I just put up with it's endless startup time and system checks?