Hi, I recently installed DesktopX a Stardock application, which I didn't find to my liking so I uninstalled it... ever since, each time I start up my pc the following happens:

1. normal boot up
   
2. sign in to my account
   
3. • my normal desktop background is gone
   • its now a black background
   • my documents window appears
   • NOTHING else happens... no taskbar... pressing windows logo key doesn't bring up menu... no nothing

What I have to do to fix this, is to:

1. bring up the task manager (thru ctrl+alt+delete)
2. choose to run a new task ''explorer.exe''
3. TADA...

just THEN do I get a normal boot of my desktop, applications, taskbar, etc...


I used spybot to check which applications ran when i started my system, none that I didn't have before... I also ran a scan on spybot, nothing...
Scanned with AVG8 Anti-Virus... nothing but cookie files.

This really pisses me off, starting my system and having to do a whole drill to make it start correctly.

hmm, well its nothing to do with what Anti-Virus you have on your computer...

Its due to DesktopX taking over the place of Explorer, so when you uninstalled DesktopX, it didn't put Explorer back.. if you get me?

(CTRL + SHIFT + ESC is a short-cut to open task manager straight away)

So have you tried booting up in safe mode?
if not, then whilst it is booting up, press F8.. Explorer should open up like normal. If so, just shut the computer down correctly.

Jam

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First of all, I have the full version of avg8 anti-virus.

I booted up in safe mode and it has the same problem. Not sure if the problem is clear, but just for the doubts I'll say it again. When I turn on my computer, everything is fine. I get to the User Account logon screen, I log into my account, it starts to load, but nothing shows up but a black desktop and a window of My Documents....

That happens in safe mode as well, I noticed that on a normal boot, once I log into my account, I look at the processes running and explorer.exe is one of them, yet I need to start a New Task running explorer again to get the taskbar and desktop and apps to work...

Should I do a Hijackthis log?

Or perhaps it could be fixed if I could tell the computer to run [b]explorer.exe[b] each time it logs into my account? if it can be done... just an idea.

MightyKing, you did explain it okay the first time

I suggest booting in safe mode as sometimes this fixes the problems like this.
And yes you can tell explorer.exe to run at start-up.

Okay, this should work, I don't use windows much anymore...

Open up TaskManager -> Run
and type in: msconfig

In the startup tab, make sure that everything is checked right, same within the general tab.

It might be best to do this in safe mode btw.
...Sorry I can't be ny clearer, I just can't remember

Jam

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Hi jam,

I did what you suggested and didn't work.

So what I decided to do was to begin a restore point created automatically by my laptop. I figured the problem would be that the application didn't uninstall correctly and left some ugly registry on my computer which made it do that error when I log in.

Once I got the restore point process complete, I log in like a wonder.

Thanks for the help.

++ REP

Ah good
Its always a good idea to keep restore points

Jam

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ya man, i tried that stardock thing. since it messes with my registry, and always has to quit out because of some error, i switched it back to windows, instead of stardock on the login, and uninstalled it. shitty app. good idea for an app though.

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