Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 05:38:53 PM

Title: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 05:38:53 PM

Hi all, i just started up my computer after being away for the weekend and now i can use programs and the internet, but my start menu, tool bar and icons constantly disappear then reappear like my system is just starting up....any ideas on whats wrong and how i can fix this

thanx greg

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: lostcoast on November 30, 2008, 06:38:37 PM

Start with a full system scan for virus and then run spybot for malware.

Be sure to clear temp files and cookies in IE and or firefox browsers before the scans.

If you need recommendations for antivirus please try Avast or AVG, all of them including Spybot are free.

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: patio on November 30, 2008, 08:14:57 PM

How about let's find out what ver. of Windows what machine and what happened prior to this etc ? ?

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 08:24:27 PM

windows xp and i was on msn messenger and using a webcam, msn messenger froze i restarted the computer and this is where i am at

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: patio on November 30, 2008, 08:34:40 PM

Machine specs i think i included in my question....

But to save time you can check/do the usual housekeeping.
Disk cleanup
Defrag

Then
List hard drive capacity and free space...
RAM
CPU

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 08:42:14 PM

the problem is i cant keep the window open long enough, bc every time the icons go away the start menu goes away including the folders that are open ill try to get the info u asked for i have a toshiba would safe mode help me in getting it to work a little better

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: patio on November 30, 2008, 09:27:24 PM

So it's a laptop ? ?

Now we're making progress...

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 09:32:55 PM

yeah its a laptop, im sorry im not great with computers, i know that if i reformat my comp it will take care of the problem, but i wanna get my photos and such off of here, but everything closes on me before i can get there....i ran the checks and put norton 360 on here still no better

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: JJ 3000 on November 30, 2008, 09:38:23 PM

Quote from: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 08:42:14 PM

would safe mode help me in getting it to work a little better

only one way to find out.

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: gerg_1084 on November 30, 2008, 09:42:38 PM

how do i get into safe mode, im not sure, i was told hit F8, that didnt work and i tried to find it on the F2 and F12 menu and still cant figure it out

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: patio on November 30, 2008, 09:49:20 PM

F8 needs to be tapped repeatedly when powering up and before you see the Windows screen...
Let us know how it runs in safe mode but it's not a cure all for what your issue may be.

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: gerg_1084 on December 01, 2008, 06:21:03 PM

going into safe mode did nothing, do you think someone who knows what they are doing would be able to atleast salvage pics, documents, and a few other items off of here before i were to reformat my comp, bc i was told reformating it would fix this for sure

Title: Re: start menu, tool bar, and icons keep disappearing and reappearing??
Post by: patio on December 01, 2008, 07:16:52 PM

If you are going to format and do a clean install then get one of these :

             (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/patio/CHope/laptoide.jpg)

2.5" Laptop to IDE adapter...

This will enable you to hook up the laptop HDD to a working desktop machine and retrieve/burn your data.