No icons, start menu, only desktop backgound....

I have a HP a712n computer. I am using windows xp and my task manager does work.  I have tried all of the following to try and fix this, but so far, nothing has worked...

1) System restore
2) Last known good configuration
3) defragment and error check
3). I have ran malware and superantispyware and Norton (I do not run them at the same time) have several viruses, and removed them.
4). I can go into regedit and look at my registry, but explorer.exe is not there
5). I type explorer or explorer.exe in the new task and it pops up a box that says "windows cannot access the specified device, path or file.  You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item".
6). I have booted in safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with prompts and tried all kinds of things, but nothing works.  Same blank screen in safe mode.
7). I have ran the exehelper that I seen listed in another post on here, and here is what comes up....


exeHelper by Raktor
Build 20091021
Run at 11:57:00 on 10/31/09
Now searching...
Checking for numerical processes...
Checking for bad processes...
Checking for bad files...
Checking for bad registry entries...
Resetting filetype association for .exe
Error occurred while processing: exefile.
.exe=exefile
Resetting filetype association for .com
comfile="%1" %*
.com=comfile
Resetting userinit and shell values...
Resetting policies...
--Finished--
 
Press any key to continue . . .

There was nothing new put on computer and we don't keep anything of importance in it. 


Can someone please help me get my desktop back?

[Moderator]

1) What happened between the last time everything worked properly and the first time it did not (new hw, sw, virus, error, etc)?

2) Have you done a full system scan with BOTH your anti virus utility AND MalwareBytes? If not, do so now.

Nothing happened.  My son said that everything on computer froze up so he turned it off and rebooted, and no icons, nothing.

I did a full system scan with Norton (found nothing), Superantispyware and Malwarebytes.  There were several adware tracking cookies and a few other trojans and it removed all of it.

[Moderator]

Okay, well SOMETHING happened - these things don't occur spontaneously. But lets try a couple of things.

1) First, boot to the XP CD and choose the first repair option. That will take you to the recovery console. Once there, run chkdsk /r. It will take a while to complete, let it do so. When it's finished type "exit" and press ENTER to reboot.

2) If still no joy, we can try a repair install.

I do not have the XP cd. 

[Moderator]

You can borrow one for the repair efforts - it's both legal and effective. Try to borrow the same version you currently have in case we have to do the repair install. If you can't borrow one right away, you can download a .iso that will boot you to the recovery console (you have to use a utility to burn the .iso image to cd): http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?showtopic=150212

I will see what I can do.  Right now I am not at home, I am on my work computer.  I thought that there was some sort of repair thing in my computer, but I could wrong.  Can  I buy a new xp cd?  I don't know anyone that has one.

[Moderator]

Sure you can. Assuming you intend to keep using XP for the forseeable future you should have one anyway.

I am having the EXACT same problem.Only my Background shows up.Task manager works,and I am also having the "windows cannot access the specified device, path or file.  You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item". Please, SOMEONE HELP!


BTW, How did you manage to get the start menu to come up?

[Moderator]

I am having the EXACT same problem.Only my Background shows up.Task manager works,and I am also having the "windows cannot access the specified device, path or file.  You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item". Please, SOMEONE HELP!


BTW, How did you manage to get the start menu to come up?

You need to either start your own thread or sit quietly and watch this one. This is not your thread.

You need to either start your own thread or sit quietly and watch this one. This is not your thread.

umm ya Allan, i started my own.That "patio" guy posted some click here stuff,Which just told me how to get rid of spyware,Malware,Viruses,etc.
Yeah,what great help.
-.-

I don't have the start menu.  I access everything through task manager.  The only way I got Malwarebytes and Superantispyware to run was to run exehelper and then hurry up and run the scan.

[Moderator]

Okay. If I were you I'd download a boot time av scanner, burn it to a cd, boot to it and run a full virus scan at boot.

Okay. If I were you I'd download a boot time av scanner, burn it to a cd, boot to it and run a full virus scan at boot.

Not sure if you are talking to me or not.I know it's not my post,but not getting much help from anyone else.
What should i download?
I have tried:
Advance System Care
O.S. Pro
Superanti spyware
Spyhunter
Panda Security
AVG 8.0
Norton
Spyware Removal pro.
etc.

[Moderator]

I am NOT talking to you in this thread. Please, this is not your thread - you are only confusing things here.