why does windows xp freeze when I start up my computer? I get to see my desktop but no icons or taskbar.. :(?

Question

sometimes when my computer boots up it doesn't load windows completely - I see my desktop but the icons don't show up and neither does the taskbar/start button. I can use Ctrl Alt Delete to reboot but its annoying! Sometimes it tells me that explorer is not responding when I reboot, so i suspect that's the culprit, but what do I do?
Thanks! Any ideas or help appreciated!
Eva

Answer 1

Its not explorer. Its something else that you added willingly or unwillingly.. First boot in safe mode (press F8 during bootup, after the keyboard flashes the first time).. see how it boots like that a few times, (it only boots windows when you do this).. If that solves the problem do a scan with AdAware, remove everything it finds, then run spybot remove everything it finds. See how the computer runs after that. If that still dont solve the problem then click start run and type MSCONFIG, click the startup tab, and Uncheck the programs that you dont want to preload, (those programs will still open when you want to use them this just stops them from preloading everytime you boot windows. For some reason preloading is supposed to make those programs faster to open when you wish to use them.. ( I keep them all off except whats needed, I figure its better to wait the extra second when I decide to actually use the program, then to have to wait everytime I boot windows)... If that still dont help then try going here and seeing what this turns up...

http://forum.networktechs.com/t1819059447-attention-read-me-before-posting-for-help.html

Answer 2

I think the problem is not Internet Explorer at all... it's a part of the Windows system called Windows Explorer. It's pretty much the part that lets you navigate Windows and your taskbar/start menu and all.
What I know is that I had some problems with this REALLY annoying virus awhile back, and what would happen is that when I would start my computer often, the virus would shut down Windows Explorer, and thus all I had was wall paper on the computers desktop. I ultimatly reinstalled Windows and made sure my antivirus was up to date right before scanning my system.
In your case, I'm positive that you're having Windows Explorer problems. So I recomment the following:
Scan your computer for virus's with an updated antivirus. If you don't have one, as a home user you can get pretty good one at www.avast.com.
Disable any unneeded programs that start up when Windows starts, so that Windows can start faster and not crash due to too many programs trying to start at once. I recommend doing this AFTER getting the antivirus though. As funny as it might sound, having a bunch of programs fighting to start up actually helped me to boot up without Windows Explorer crashing, simply because all that system lag caused the virus to crash.
And after this is all done, do the scan disk and degrag your harddrive and all.
Plus if you're on a slower system, getting some new RAM wouldn't hurt either.
Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Switch to Mozilla's Firefox browser and remove Internet Explorer from your machine.

http://www.mozilla.com/

After you install firefox, Go to your computer's Control Panel, Add Remove Programs, Click on Add/Remove Windows Components, uncheck Internet Explorer, and click Next to remove it. Then it's onward to a less frustrating computer life.

For insurance, do a Defrag of your Hard Disk Drive.

Good luck.

Answer 4

I could do a virulent disease test. Or home windows replace to peer if theres whatever that has been up to date. I could additionally investigate to peer if theres any advert-mindful. If that dont paintings, I could most of the time get my repair disc should you accidently deleted whatever that used to be wanted. well success! :)