hourglass comes up when mouse moved over taskbar on startup

[digitaltidbits]

WOW i have this EXACT same problem and have been searching the internet for two days trying to find someone who has the same problem with hopes they may have found a solution.

...and to answer your question, Carbon Dudeoxide (for myself that is)
yes, it does the same thing even in safemode. the only difference i think is...if i try to click on the desktop or an icon...it too goes to the hourglass and does nothing. i pretty much have to shut it down.

please help

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I split this to another topic from here

Welcome to the Forums.

Does this problem still occur in Safe Mode?
When you start the computer, keep pressing F8 until you get a black menu with white text. Choose Safe Mode.
More info here: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

Can you try using System Restore to a date before this problem?

[digitaltidbits]

thanks so much for splitin the thread...i didn't know how to link to the same problem er...

no...in normal startup i can't even get into the start menu...i've tried hitting the little windows key (bottom left on keyboard) and it won't even pop up. i can't click on anything or go anywhere. i can see everything on the desktop, wallpaper, icons etc., just can't click on anything.

when i hit F8 it doesn't matter which option i pick it stays locked up.

i've tried restore to last good working blah... i've tried networking, safemode, yoou name it....i think the only one i haven't tried was the debugging option 'cause i had no clue what it does. sometimes i can't even get it to go into F8 because it skips it and goes right into startup.

trying to make sure i think of everything....oh, also sometimes when i reboot i won't even have a mouse and keyboard won't work...i'm not sure if that matters in helping me figure out my problem, but it's the only other thing i've noticed. doesn't happen every time i reboot...just sometimes.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Hmmm....Do you think it may be a virus?

If not, I think you're going to have to perform a Repair Install with your Windows CD.

[digitaltidbits]

it's very possible...my kids get on it as well....there's no tellin what they may or may not have downloaded. *sigh* anyhow...here's the catch....i've tried putting in the CDs that came with the computer and you can see a little cd pop up beside the mouse/arrow like it's reading it (and you can hear it spinning) but nothing happens no auto play action...i tried restarting it while the cd was in nothing happens

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

But if you want to make sure it's not a virus, I'd look here:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

There's no harm trying a repair now though.

[evilfantasy]

Try this.

Download Dial-a-Fix by djlizard, save it to the desktop then extract it to it's own folder.

• Open the folder and run Dial-a-fix.exe
• 2 windows will open. Close the one in the background labeled Restrictive Policies
• On the main window, check the box in section 4, labeled SSL/HTTPS/Cryptography. The 4 boxes under it should be pre-checked
• Check all boxes in Section 5, labeled Registration Center.
• Click Go
• OK any error messages if received, but write them down and post them here.
• Restart the computer when done

[digitaltidbits]

i don't mean to sound rude, but what part of "cannot DO ANYTHING" did y'all not understand. i cannot access my desktop, my computer, start menu, restore points...NOTHING at all.....it is completely locked up when it is turned on with an hourglass that does not ever go away...i cannot get on the internet with it....cannot download anything to desktop...when i say "nothing" i am in no way exaggerating. it won't auto load cd's...i can't access alt=ctrl=del...no control panel nothing at all.

none of these links y'all are sending me to....help me

is there anything i can do in the safe mode/command prompt window? because that is the only thing i can access at all.

[Broni]

I think you're going to have to perform a Repair Install with your Windows CD.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[evilfantasy]

i've tried restore to last good working blah

Sounds like you CAN do some things.

Can you open My Computer in safe mode?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841571

[digitaltidbits]

i've tried restore to last good working blah

Sounds like you CAN do some things.

Can you open My Computer in safe mode?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841571

I completely understand y'all are trying to help me and i thank you so much for that. However, you're not listening to me. I'll say it one more time....when i hit F8 to go into safemode (whenever it feels like it...it will go into safemode NOT always) and when it does decide to go into safemode....i CANNOT do a single thing...it sits with the hourglass just like in normal startup. i cannot click on anything open anything look inside anything...it is frozen with an hourglass....and if i move the mouse to try to click on anything then mouse then freezes too. it won't move around on the screen anymore.

...and when i said: "i've tried restore to last good working blah" that is one of the option to click on when you hit F8...that option simply sends me to normal startup with the same hourglass etc. everythig i've explained nothing happens.

and unless someone has a magic wand...it has also effected my cd drive too because it won't load ANY DELL Windows CD's (that came with the computer) to do a Repair Install .

This is extremely frustrating to explain because y'all think i can go into things to help my computer and i can't because it won't let me....if it didn't cost me so dang much to buy it i would walk outside and throw it in my pool right now because it's completely worthless at this point. *sigh*

I apologize if i seem like i'm snapping i honestly don't mean to i'm just so sad.

[evilfantasy]

I suggest taking it to a reputable computer shop. Call around first and try to get a feel for a small reputable tech. Someone with tools can probably have it sorted out in under an hour which shouldn't cost too much.

[Broni]

digitaltidbits
You're not listening, either.
Did you try Carbon's advice, repeated by me in post #8?

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If you're worried you will lose all your System Settings and Files, you wont.

[Florin9874]

I realize this is an old topic, but i'm having a similar problem and i hope someone could tell me what to do

After windows starts i cannot do anything click on icons, access the start button and the hourglass over the taskbar never disappears...however i can run task manager (ctrl+alt+del)  and by doing so i log off and then log in again. This seams to work and my computer comes to normal.

So, i have the option of downloading certain programs or anything, unlike digitaltidbits
I tried Dial-a-Fix but i get no errors
I don't think that it's a virus, because it appeared shortly after formatting my pc, even befor i got to download anything...also i removed any unwanted programs at startup

any suggestions?

P.S. English is not my main language so please disregard any mistakes