Thread: missing desktop
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Old December 9th 05, 08:22 PM posted to microsoft.public.win98.shell
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Default missing desktop

Usually caused by mismatched or damaged Internet Explorer files. Try this:

Blank desktop or illegal operations error message after you install
Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=249191

Note that if you need to get as far as the #6 item and if IE6 was
installed you have to change the command accordingly (IE5Maintenance to
IE6Maintenance). Also, the command is case sensitive.

John

mr_hops wrote:
hello,
I have a friend that messed up his machine. it has registry registered
software
that cannot be re-registered. (company went out of business)
I don't know exactly what he did but here is what I need to fix.

after boot up there is nothing on the screen except for the background.
no taskbar, no start button, no systray

after a ctrl-alt-del task manager shows nothing running
booted to dos (f8) and changed the shell= line in system.ini to command.com
next boot brought up a dos box that allowed me to type "explorer" and the
file explorer started
I can run any programs I want from there, but I need the desktop back

I can run regedit etc.

where do I go from here ?

btw already tried a re-install, and all backup versions of the registry .