Windows boot up nothing

[Tai]

I've got a problem when I start up my computer...
I'm using Vista Home, when I turn it on it loads up as normal, sits on the start up screen then goes to my desktop - but displays ONLY the background, no icons, and no task bar.

What may cause this problem and what could I do to fix this?

Edit: I have tried safe mode but no avail.

 

[oboyco]

Video card drivers may be a problem. Had the same thing happen in 32bit Vista resuming from sleep until I updated my vid card drivers.

Worth looking into.

 

[Tai]

I got the newest video driver. This happens on my laptop and desktop.

 

[Demon10000]

Sounds like some application you have isn't letting the shell (explorer.exe) start.

My first guess is spyware. My second guess is a program that just doesn't mesh well with vista. Try making a list of the applications you have on both computers and then trying to narrow down which one it is.

If you can run a spyware scan, that would be great too.

But I'm sure it's something you installed, or something that installed without you knowing it. Especially since it's on both of your machines, and one is a desktop while the other is a laptop.