my desktop icons and taskbar are gone!!!

My computer boots to the point where I can see the
background. The task bar, start button, and desktop icons
are nowhere to be found.

I've tried scanreg.exe and changed to a former register.
The safe mode fairs no better.

Can anybody help??

First try this:
Blank Desktop or Illegal Operations Error Message After You Install Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/default...91&Product=w98

Some have had trouble when it comes to Article #129605 at step #3. What you need to
do is reinstall your version of IE to work out the missing files issue.
Look for the IE#setup.exe files in:
C:\Progra~1\Intern~1
or
C:\Windows\Window~1

To overinstall IE6:
First, close all via CTRL+ALT+DEL except Explorer (includes your AV program,
Scheduled Tasks, Screensaver, and going offline). StartRunIE6Setup.exe.
Select Minimal - Custom, select all the parts you use (but not any you didn't
originally download) and overinstall. Should take about 2 minutes.
Reboot...the computer.

http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/answers.htm#preinstall

Then:
**It is pertinent to run the update for each program before running to be sure you
have the latest definitions.**
Download/run Cool Web Shredder from:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

For Info on Cool Web Search Variants:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

Then download/install/run Ad-Aware to detect/rid of any other parasites/spyware that
may be installed. It can be obtained free from:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
After installing Ad-Aware, open it and click on the ref update to get the latest
up-to-date ref file, then run Ad-Aware and delete everything it finds.

And/or download/install/run:
Spybot - Search & Destroy:
http://security.kolla.de/index.php?l...&page=download
Run it at it's default settings until you learn an know more about it. Spybot S&D is
more of an advanced users tool and changing from the default settings can be
dangerous to the novice user. Items found in the default settings that are RED can
usually be safely removed. If you are unsure of a found item, do not remove it and
ask for help.

If you still have problems, download/run HijackThis from:
http://www.merijn.org/

Do not remove anything with it until you get advice on what to remove, HJThis will
list many apps that are needed along with the bad ones. Removing items listed
hap-hazardly without knowing what they are can/will create a royal mess. Read the
quick start here on how to create a log file that can be copied/pasted into a forum
that can provide assistance on removal of unwanted pests.
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/#quick

Then post the logs to an appropriate NG here where they specialize in
spyware/hijacker removal:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

It's also a good idea to have a HOSTS file to block bad sites, scroll to HOSTS File
Manager he
http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm

Another good app is SpywareBlaster which stops the badboys before they even get a
chance to install:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

--
Brian A.

Jack of all trades, Master of none.
One can never truly be a master as there is always more to learn.


"megawatt" wrote in message
...
My computer boots to the point where I can see the
background. The task bar, start button, and desktop icons
are nowhere to be found.

I've tried scanreg.exe and changed to a former register.
The safe mode fairs no better.

Can anybody help??

Perhaps you may try installing Win98 over itself (usually C:\windows, not
the one the install will suggest which is usually C:\win0000).
You may just have to reinstall IE.
Someone will come along and give you the step by step to do it by starting
in DOS.
It involves editing a line in System.ini.
I believe that line is under the [boot] header and it says:
shell=Explorer.exe
You need to change it to shell=Progman.exe , and then save it and reboot.
Then if it gets to where you can work with it, try the IE repair tool.
When you finish, change the line back to shell=Explorer.exe (I believe
the capital E is necessary).
Hopefully someone else will come along and do a step by step for you.


"megawatt" wrote in message
...
My computer boots to the point where I can see the
background. The task bar, start button, and desktop icons
are nowhere to be found.

I've tried scanreg.exe and changed to a former register.
The safe mode fairs no better.

Can anybody help??

Perhaps ignore my advice and follow the advice from Brian A.

"Buffalo" wrote in message
news:O3pEc.1851$Oq2.1361@attbi_s52...
Perhaps you may try installing Win98 over itself (usually C:\windows, not
the one the install will suggest which is usually C:\win0000).
You may just have to reinstall IE.
Someone will come along and give you the step by step to do it by starting
in DOS.
It involves editing a line in System.ini.
I believe that line is under the [boot] header and it says:
shell=Explorer.exe
You need to change it to shell=Progman.exe , and then save it and
reboot.
Then if it gets to where you can work with it, try the IE repair tool.
When you finish, change the line back to shell=Explorer.exe (I believe
the capital E is necessary).
Hopefully someone else will come along and do a step by step for you.


"megawatt" wrote in message
...
My computer boots to the point where I can see the
background. The task bar, start button, and desktop icons
are nowhere to be found.

I've tried scanreg.exe and changed to a former register.
The safe mode fairs no better.

Can anybody help??

As the Article that Brian A. referred to states, it may be the Pretty Park
virus.
Did you install anything just before the problem happened?

"megawatt" wrote in message
...
My computer boots to the point where I can see the
background. The task bar, start button, and desktop icons
are nowhere to be found.

I've tried scanreg.exe and changed to a former register.
The safe mode fairs no better.

Can anybody help??