I have no icons or a toolbar on my desktop. I cannot access my start up menu or anything. I can only use certain files by using Windows Task Manager. I have deleted all the spyware from my computer and restarted but I still do not have any icons or anything.

You may have a virus or trojan or worm or adware or some other sort of malware. Run an AV scan, and download AdAware and Spybot, install them, update them, and run them. Delete anything that looks suspicious. Some advise deleting everything because it's all reversible. Also get Spyblaster which keeps a list of bad stuff on your computer and blocks them from being installed (theoretically). Be sure your independent (not MS’s) firewall is enabled. Spybot AdAware

Hey, Likely you have a program on your system which is often refered to as being 'malware/adware'. I have seen this earlier today on a computer that had the same issues you speak of. Quick fix is to enter (control/alt/delete) after logging on and select Task Manager. Then select the processes tab and kill (yup, kill) the explore.exe process. Now, go to the Application Tab, and select "new Task" and enter 'explorer.exe'. You will now be into windows and be able to do all you want to, but you are only halfway there to fixing the issue. Open up the registry editor, (start|run and enter 'regedit') Goto HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run & HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run Make sure that there are no weird program references. pup.exe or numbered programs like 281617.exe etc... I tried unsuccesfully to remove them with mcafee 7.1 (Which can detect some adware/malware) or even with the most current adaware. Once these references were removed, windows started normally again. I was also able to remove the files. that were being refernced. Good luck.

I got rid of all the spyware and Adaware on my computer. I restarted and still have no icons or toolbar. I also went and deleted the explorer.exe file and then searched for it and could not find it. I am pretty sure there are no more spyware or adware files on my computer but cannot get my icons or taskbar/toolbar back. I am still unable to access my start menu to get to control panel so I can run system restore. I can get into dos and search for files there but cannot run them. I have installed Norton Antivirus onto my computer but it will not run. Is there anything else I can try before deleting my entire computer and starting from scratch? Please help!

Raziel, Go to the link below and download & run the Fixswen.inf file. It may help you to be able to run programs. Save the fixswen.inf file to your local hard disk, right-click on the file and choose install. A Setup INF file to undo registry changes made by W32/Swen@MM and other threats that prevent REGEDIT, BAT, COM, EXE, PIF, REG and SCR files from running. Fixswen For the missing desktop icons and Taskbar go to the link below and under"Fixes for Windows XP" use the downward arrow button and scroll to "Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar" choose it and download the .reg file. Save it somewhere where you'll find it and double click it ti merge it into your registry. Restore Desktop Icons and Taskbar Fix HTH Tufenuf