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disappearing desktop

(24 posts) (4 voices)

Started 16 years ago by funkymom
Latest reply from funkymom

funkymom
Member

hi guys- i have a weird mystery on my hands. a few minutes ago, i was online and i noticed that my task bar(i think that's what it's called-the one on the bottom of the page listing my startup programs) was gone. i minimized the page i was on and my desktop was gone! everything, there wasn't even the start button. the only thing there was a small version of a desktop wallpaper that i had used for a couple of days a few months back.

this happened once before, but i figured it was a tempermental computer thing. i haven't done anything recently to my computer (except to delete ingenious- here

i don't know if i should be worried or not.
i know you "experts" always want to know some system information, but i don't know what you would need......so please ask me for any info that might help figure this out.

thank you my friends.

funkymom
:D

Posted 16 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

If it didn't appear to the left or right or top - and didn't auto appear when moving the mouse to the bottom of the screen (known as "auto-hide") check that you didn't drag the taskbar off the bottom of the monitor.

If there is a very thin line along the bottom of the screen - click on it and try to drag "up" about the height of the old task bar.

Failing that - press Ctrl-Esc and check where the start menu appears from.

There's more things to try - but lets start with the obvious ones first. :P

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

well, i can't really try that because i had to restart my computer. once i minimized the browser, i couldn't open it again- there was nothing to click on. but, i don't think that's it. everything was gone, all my folders, and my current wallpaper.

the first time this happened, i used the power button on the computer to turn off. this time i pressed the windows button (because, i've learned this will open the start menu). when nothing happened, i started to push the power button and just when i pushed it the "log off/turn off/restart" (hey man....is timothy leary around here?)window opened, so i was able to restart the computer. now everything is fine.

Posted 16 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

ok maybe explorer.exe had died (which also does your desktop/start menu/task bar etc)

Hit ctrl-alt-delete - bring up the task menu - check if any copies of explorer.exe are still running / or hanging. End those processes.

Then run a new copy of explorer.exe from the "Run" menu in task explorer - and everything should return.

But glad your "bits" are "back". :)

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

i don't use explorer, unless i'm forced to. i'm a firefox convert.

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

explorer.exe *is* the desktop, not the same as internet explorer the web browser. also called the 'shell'. Windows explorer is actually sort of launching a mini copy of the shell. You *are* forced to use it.

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

I even have a program called iconoid that hides the taskbar (visible part of 'task manager') and all icons so you can see all of your wallpaper.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

oh. o.k. nothing showed up when i brought up the task menu (except the browser page i'm currently looking at).
-----------------------------
edit- it's not even my current wallpaper that's showing up. it's one that i used, very briefly, months ago.

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

have you cleaned your fans/heatsinks and cleared the dust off your memory lately? if not, that can do it... if you can bring up the c-a-d menu, safest is probably hit the 'shut down' button.

Posted 16 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

Internet Explorer = iexplore.exe
Windows Explorer / Desktop = explorer.exe

Even if nothing comes up - Ctrl-Alt-Del - Task Manager

Right Click and "End Process" on any existing (crashed) explorer.exe (could be more than one).

Once there are no more explorer.exe running - start a fresh one - which will become your desktop.

(In Task Manager)

File > New Task (Run...)

enter "explorer.exe" (minus the quotes) and hit enter.

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

beat you there, BuBBy! [grin] just not in exact detail.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

no. i know nothing about that. i'm on a laptop. and, actually, last night i did watch a fruit fly fly right into my computer. he just kind of slipped in behind one of the keys.

Posted 16 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

That's not a fruit fly... in computer terms your laptop now has a bug (in honor of the original bug... a moth).

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

oh, boy, that's not a job for novices.

about the closest you might be up for is removing/reseating the memory, and it's usually under a screwed-down hatch,

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

hope this isn't the result of a spill in the computer- that's why I sealed mine.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

there have been no spills (unless the fruit fly did himself in and spilled some fly blood).

there is no way that i am messing with the inside of my computer.

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

<sigh> I'm not gonna argue it, that's for sure....

Posted 16 years ago #
BuBBy
Teh adnim

You can buy a can of compressed air and blast under your keyboard to dislodge who knows what.

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

hit the air intake and fan while you're at it, then let it warn and dry for a half hour or so in case it chills and condenses JIC.

No, BuBBy and I are *not* trying to tag-team you, just looks that way.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

i did buy the canned air, but i haven't used it yet.

how would i access the fans?

Posted 16 years ago #
goodgotd
Member

fan's usually visible inside an outlet at rear left, there's only one on a laptop.

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

o.k. thanks guys. i'll try it tomorrow.

i just wish i knew for sure, what happened.

oh well......computers can't live without 'em.

Posted 16 years ago #
Robert
StrayCat

Funkymom

Probably a nice cold restart in the morning will solve computer's aches.
:)

Posted 16 years ago #
funkymom
Member

not a bad idea robert, thank you.
i do tend to get lazy at night when i'm falling asleep in front of the computer. it's just so easy to close it and let it be.

Posted 16 years ago #

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