Desktop is gone?

[techzone1]

Background- Just go on Earthlink cable high speed a couple of weeks ago. Running Win 2K Professional.
On New Years early morning (3:00 am CST), I heard a chirp type sound coming from my computer. While basically still asleep, I tried to shutdown the computer (I remember seeing several pop up messages on my screen that I closed/hit OK/etc.) Anyway when I tried to boot the computer up the next day, Windows 2000 appears to load fine, I get to my Ctrl-Alt-Delete login screen and login. After a couple of seconds, my desktop usually appears. Not anymore. It is just a blue screen. I can hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete and get my task manager. From this task manager I can open winwork, excel, iexplore, etc. But still no desktop. I was going to reload the entire system, but I'm not sure that this is necessary. Any suggestions on problem and a fix? Thanks.

[Murf]

Welcome to CTH

I take it you are running the computer 24/7. Do you have a FIREWALL installed? Running thru a Router????

Could be a virus, that needs to be checked first. Try it in SAFE MODE... Let us know....

[AnnMarie]

Hi techzone1 - if your PC is clean after running a check for viruses, use Task Manager to run Regedit.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot and in the righthand pane look at the Shell value. The value data should read:

SYS:Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

If its any different, you will need to modify it.