PC Troubles (HALP)

[Kruxxor]

Heya guys, some of you helped me last time, but the same problem is happening again.

When I switch my PC on, it loads up until it gets to the desktop, where it loads the wallpaper but no taskbar or icons.

Last time this led me to reinstall Windows (Last time was about 2 days ago)

I have noticed that last night the last thing I did (when my PC was working fine) was shut down the PC and letting it apply an update for Windows.

Is there any way I can find what update was installed last night and remove it, just to see if it really is that, that is making my PC unable to load?

I got moaned at before, for not putting system specs here, so here goes.

Intel Core2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHZ
2 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT x 2
Windows XP Home.

Thank you for your help guys!

 

[sneakypenguin]

Copy paste. This will roll it back to previous save point.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084
Log on to Windows as Administrator.
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.
On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system restore point in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next.

Note A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page is displayed.
Click OK.

 

[Dusty Donuts]

...Maybe someone hid the taskbar and desktop icons?

Yeah, that's not very hard. On the other side though, you could just interrupt the boot process and get it to go back to the settings where it last worked.

 

[Ziadaine_v1legacy]

Goto Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and in Applications, Click [New Task...] and type "explorer" see if that helps.

 

[Kruxxor]

Typing explorer.exe in the New Task didn't make it work.

I have reinstalled Windows, yet again, and it works perfectly.

I've turned automatic updates off and will only install the updates that I know have worked with my machine.

For some reason I think Service pack 3.5 is messing about with my PC. Then again, I'm not 100% sure.

I tried to roll my PC back to a later date, I started with 3 days, it rolled back, but still didn't work. I tried going further back, but it failed.


Is it possible that one of the Windows Updates is conflicting with my machine?

 

[Gruthar]

Typing explorer.exe in the New Task didn't make it work.

I have reinstalled Windows, yet again, and it works perfectly.

I've turned automatic updates off and will only install the updates that I know have worked with my machine.

For some reason I think Service pack 3.5 is messing about with my PC. Then again, I'm not 100% sure.

I tried to roll my PC back to a later date, I started with 3 days, it rolled back, but still didn't work. I tried going further back, but it failed.


Is it possible that one of the Windows Updates is conflicting with my machine?

It's possible, but usually when there's a bad/incompatible update out there, several people are affected. I haven't seen anything lately, but you never know, I guess.

Just for kicks, go to start->run, type 'cmd' and then type 'chkdsk C: /r', then type 'Y' and hit enter. This'll scan your hard disk -- including the surface -- for errors. It usually takes ~45 minutes, depending on how much stuff is on the drive. Normally the cause of Explorer issues is software-related, but ruling out hardware is not a bad idea.

Besides Windows Updates, are there any pieces of software that you installed prior to the machine dying a second time? Are you using the latest drivers? Are you on a network with other computers?

 

[Ph33nix]

could be your hard drive or mobo went. although that would be odd for both of them your symptoms i mean

 

[Kruxxor]

Typing explorer.exe in the New Task didn't make it work.

I have reinstalled Windows, yet again, and it works perfectly.

I've turned automatic updates off and will only install the updates that I know have worked with my machine.

For some reason I think Service pack 3.5 is messing about with my PC. Then again, I'm not 100% sure.

I tried to roll my PC back to a later date, I started with 3 days, it rolled back, but still didn't work. I tried going further back, but it failed.


Is it possible that one of the Windows Updates is conflicting with my machine?

It's possible, but usually when there's a bad/incompatible update out there, several people are affected. I haven't seen anything lately, but you never know, I guess.

Just for kicks, go to start->run, type 'cmd' and then type 'chkdsk C: /r', then type 'Y' and hit enter. This'll scan your hard disk -- including the surface -- for errors. It usually takes ~45 minutes, depending on how much stuff is on the drive. Normally the cause of Explorer issues is software-related, but ruling out hardware is not a bad idea.

Besides Windows Updates, are there any pieces of software that you installed prior to the machine dying a second time? Are you using the latest drivers? Are you on a network with other computers?

My PC has always been part of a network ever since I've had it (over 1 year)

Like I said, so far so good this time. My PC boots up in reasonable time and I've reinstalled things that I know have worked in the past. I've turned Windows Updates off and will stay away from downloading Service pack 3.5. Obviously if my PC does do it again, then I know it's not that.