My family PC's desktop is not responding.

We click and nothing happens. Has anyone had this problem? We can only access programs from the start menu.

 

Yep, its Sector corruption on your hard drive. You need to run a thorough scan disk,and ask it to repair bad & broken clusters and sectors. prior to this I would run a spyware scan, and a registry repair program, if either fail to fix the problem, proceed with the first option.

 

Ran Ccleaner's registry scanner and nothing. Can't do a spyware scan since anti spyware programs are forbidden on the family PC. How do I do the first option?

 

Heres one page with instructions for running chkdsk.

Also, at step 6, use the /r switch.

 

Hi cheater87.

How to Perform Scandisk in Windows

How about online spyware scans? By the way, did you scan with your updated antivirus already?

Also, take this test (registration required; free). It will tell you the current state of the PC. If you want to share with us the result of the test,

thanatos

 

Actually, before you do anything, what do you really mean by this? In detail. What works, what doesn't, and please be precise. Understand the problem before starting any activities to designed to "fix" things...

Blue

 

As Blue said,but O/T any one who wants to run chkdsk(and any of those other hidden Windows utilities)-just download XPsyspad

here

No need for command lines or anything complicated.

Doubt if chkdsk can cure.

 

Clicking on the desk top icons does not do anything. No responses at all. I can't open, drag or do anything on it. Its like if you deleted all the icons and replaced them with a picture of an icon filled computer background. The only way to get to a program is to do it from the start menu's all programs list.

 

Does the program open if you right-click its desktop icon and choose open? Do you have tweaking programs installed? Try using this (for XP).

thanatos

 

Still havent given us much useful info.
What did you d/l or use just prior to the problem-have you tried sys restore-do you have a backup image- did you change any settings,etc,etc.-did you open any email attachments-did you visit an unusual site- when did it occur??

First option a recent restore of an image which worked.

Otherwise -go to safe mode,carry out a full antivirus and malware scan also using external sources.
Reboot and install Hijack This and see what the log says.

If still no logical result carry out a reinstallation only of Windows(not a full install of the lot)

If you still have time -go to GiveAway of the Day and install AntiVir Task Manager and see if anything unusual is running.

But have a feeling its something really simple

 

I can't install any anti spyware programs because my parents do not want any on the PC. I"ll see if I can do a system restore. I don't use that PC so I don't know if anything was clicked on or what was tampered with. I'll do a system scan with NOD32 which is the only thing on the PC tomorrow in safe mode.

 

Right clicking does not do anything.

 

Can you right-click on the desktop (not on the icons)? Can you delete/create new shortcuts? Do the new shortcuts work? If you merge this into the registry, is the issue fixed?

Maybe you've been a victim of a joke.

thanatos

 

Yup Theos that was the problem. Now I have a bare desktop and I can't get any new icons. I tried going to the programs and doing "make shortcut" but it doesn't work.

 

I am not sure but is it possiable that the registry key was Damaged or incorrect value.

 

What should I do?

 

Did you try a system restore.

 

I'll see if I can do that.

 

Cheater87, if system restore fails try the ff:

-Download linkfile_fix.zip. Extract the zip and look for linkfile_fix.reg. Double-click the *.reg file. Allow it to merge into the registry. Can you create working shortcuts now?

Similar: Can't create shortcuts for programs on my desktop

-If you have been a victim of a joke, see if desktop icons are hidden. Right-click your desktop>Arrange Icons By>Show Desktop Icons (should be checked). If right-clicking does not work, use this. Extract hidedesktop.zip and double click showdesktop.reg.

-Does this happen with the other user profiles of the PC? Maybe the user profile (desktop folder and desktop.ini) you're currently using is corrupt. See this (read "What should I do if my roaming profile becomes corrupted?").

thanatos

 

Thanks Theos the right click and check desktop icons worked. *Hands you a sack of kittens as your reword*

 

Good sleuth work,thanatos_theos

 

welcome to the wonderful world of windows

 

Good work thanatos_theos.

 

You're welcome, Cheater87 . It seems you've been owned by a friend/relative . Thank you for the the kittens. But, um, I think one is enough. Let's give the others to DVD+R, WSFuser, Blue, Hairy Coo and djohn since they all helped too .

thanatos