The Problem: When your computer starts up only the backround image comes up.

The Tools: You have Task Manager, Command Prompt, and IE 6 (that is ready to crash at any moment). There is only one user acount of this dcomputer. Nothing else is available unless it can be brought up using the CMD.

The Diagonstic: The computer is looking in the wrong/non-existant folder for the windows desktop.

The Challenge: A non-believer mockingly told me to ask F150online.com for help since they "always seem to be able to solve everything" (note sarcasm).

31C

 

since you have the command prompt:
also assuming WinXP
try system restore to an earlier date-
type at prompt:
you could do this in normal mode or safe-mode (reboot, before windows loads push F8)
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

 

I forgot to explain the input devices are unresponisive during start up since they are bluetooth and require windows to be running.

 

so your keyboard isn't working either??? (is that what you're saying?)

 

Steelers fan or not...

Try reboot, before the XP flag comes up, hit F8, select safe mode than run the system restore.

If that doesn't work come back for more.

Oh and smack the non-believer in the back of the head.

 

Keyboard works, just not during start up...

31C

 

You could use the command prompt to open MSCONFIG, in which you can select "safe boot" and do a restore.

 

okay- access the cmd prompt- type in msconfig the system utility should appear, find the boot.ini tab- click the box for /SAFEBOOT from there, reboot- computer should start in safemode instead... from there, go back to CMD, type in the restore prompt as posted above...
if it fixes everything when you are done, go back to msconfig > boot.ini > de-select /SAFEBOOT

 

Ya, that's more detailed but what I said, except you can't do it from the default location. You have to go to C:\Windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries (assuming XP)

 

Safe mode did not work.

I think the easiest way to do it would be if I could tell windows where to find the desktop at because right now it is looking in the wrong location.

31C

 

Not sure how to do that but did you try the restore command from the command prompt, you didn't mention that?

 

Yes. The program/window would open and imediately freeze.

 

I doubt that it is the fact that it can't find the desktop, its sounds like a service or startup file is failing or hanging

Did safemode fail to start or did the restore failt to work?

 

The restore failed.

I get an error message when I try and access my desktop that says desktop could not be found in:

C:\Documents and Setting\LocalServices\

it should be looking in:

C:\Documents and Settings\31Charlie\

Does anyone know how I can access the control panel?

31C

 

you can launch the individual components rather than going into the CP directly.

Perhaps try to boot into safe mode, create a new user, log in as that new user and work from there. Perhaps your profile is just hosed.