there are no icons or task bar on boot up. this happened after my brother downloaded something. I can't even get on the internet. Even my soundcard won't play. Can it be a virus? Also I tried using the win xp disc to repair and it said no hard drive detected

Happens when explorer.exe is not showing in Task Managers task list. You could open Task Manager, find "New Task" button, then type explorer.exe 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. --------------------------------------- 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.

Run a System Restore to a time before the software was downloaded. EEOC