Well, I have Windows Xp home edition on my computer and everything was fine, but suddenly after a restart, when windows started up, I could only see the background (Harry Potter :).. Seriously though, there was nothing else, no start menu, no task bars and especially no icons like recycling bin or my computer... please help!!!

Am i right in believing then, you can't use the computer? Turn the computer off by holding down the power button on the computer. Repeat this a few times if the computer doesn't show the taskbar on each attempt. if it persists more than a few times, you do have a serious problem. i would advise you take it to a shop to be fixed, so that you don't lose any data. if the task bar reappears, but the desktop icons don't, and the computer is usable, then simply right click the desktop, and select "Arrange Icons By" and then select in the submenu "Show desktop icons"

Kumail, Open Task Manager(Alt/Ctrl/Del) click on File, click on New Task(Run...) and type in: explorer.exe then click OK which should bring back your Taskbar & Desktop icons. Tufenuf