[SOLVED] Wallpaper covering the toolbar

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 07:44 PM

My daughter downloaded wallpaper from Disney. It takes up the entire screen, and we can't access anything. There are no icons on the screen (start button, etc.) and we can't get to the control panel to remove it. Tried rebooting, clicking on various points on the screen - no help.
Any help is appreciated.

Doug

elf · 01-04-2008, 07:45 PM

try holding Alt then pressing F4

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 07:54 PM

It doesn't do anything. Still a full screen of Jack Skellington.

elf · 01-04-2008, 07:57 PM

Try booting into safe mode by tapping F8 as your computer boots up. This will keep windows from loading any programs or wallpapers you have setup. From there you should be able to remove it.

bongo667 · 01-04-2008, 08:11 PM

Keep us posted on what happens

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 08:17 PM

We could enter in safe mode, but it forwarded to the user page. When we clicked on System Administrator, it went to a black page that said "safe mode" in the lower left and lower right, and had some other verbage along the top. But we couldn't get anywhere from there.

elf · 01-04-2008, 08:23 PM

So even in safe mode it did not have any icons or the start menu?

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 08:24 PM

Correct

elf · 01-04-2008, 08:47 PM

Are you running windows 98 on this pc?

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 08:49 PM

hello

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 08:49 PM

windows xp home

elf · 01-04-2008, 09:00 PM

Ok, I just noticed you have 98 listed as your OS that's why I was asking.

When you are booted into safe mode hold Ctrl + Shift + Esc

This will load your task manager. From there go to File > New Task (Run..)

In the little window that loads type c:\windows\explorer.exe and then press ok

Let me know what happens from there.

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 09:17 PM

When we input that, a red X came up - "Windows cannot find C:\Windows\explorer.exe" and asked us to check the spelling.

elf · 01-04-2008, 09:24 PM

Ok, instead of typing the c:\windows\explorer.exe try navigating (by pressing Browse).

Your system may not have been installed to c:\windows, that is the default though.

Or try typing in the run box "%systemroot%\explorer.exe"

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 09:32 PM

The "%systemroot%\explorer.exe" led to the same error message. By clicking browse, we get into a file labeled "program" with many files in it. What should we be looking for?

elf · 01-04-2008, 09:43 PM

You would be looking for a program that is called explorer.exe, but if %systemroot% didn't find it you probably won't be able to either.

Try running %systemroot%\system32\cmd through your task manager.

Also, could you look through your task manager and see how many processes are running?

lawdvd · 01-04-2008, 09:55 PM

%systemroot%\system32\cmd led to a black page with a code line
C:\Windows\System 32

The task window shows that as the only thing running

elf · 01-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Run the System File Checker from that black page with the code line, type:

Code:

sfc /scannow

( sfc if not reconized) (Note that there is a space between sfc and /scannow)

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem.
In all likelihood you will be prompted to insert the Windows XP CD.

One caveat: you need a Windows CD or DVD to enable SFC to make repairs.

01-04-2008, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	[SOLVED] Wallpaper covering the toolbar My daughter downloaded wallpaper from Disney. It takes up the entire screen, and we can't access anything. There are no icons on the screen (start button, etc.) and we can't get to the control panel to remove it. Tried rebooting, clicking on various points on the screen - no help. Any help is appreciated. Doug

01-04-2008, 07:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar try holding Alt then pressing F4 __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 07:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar It doesn't do anything. Still a full screen of Jack Skellington.

01-04-2008, 07:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar Try booting into safe mode by tapping F8 as your computer boots up. This will keep windows from loading any programs or wallpapers you have setup. From there you should be able to remove it. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
bongo667 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 130 OS: 2k pro/XP sp2/XP Tablet/Vista/Linux/Fedora	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar Keep us posted on what happens

01-04-2008, 08:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar We could enter in safe mode, but it forwarded to the user page. When we clicked on System Administrator, it went to a black page that said "safe mode" in the lower left and lower right, and had some other verbage along the top. But we couldn't get anywhere from there.

01-04-2008, 08:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar So even in safe mode it did not have any icons or the start menu? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 08:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar Correct

01-04-2008, 08:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar Are you running windows 98 on this pc? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 08:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar hello

01-04-2008, 08:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar windows xp home

01-04-2008, 09:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar Ok, I just noticed you have 98 listed as your OS that's why I was asking. When you are booted into safe mode hold Ctrl + Shift + Esc This will load your task manager. From there go to File > New Task (Run..) In the little window that loads type c:\windows\explorer.exe and then press ok Let me know what happens from there. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 09:17 PM	#13 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar When we input that, a red X came up - "Windows cannot find C:\Windows\explorer.exe" and asked us to check the spelling.

01-04-2008, 09:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar Ok, instead of typing the c:\windows\explorer.exe try navigating (by pressing Browse). Your system may not have been installed to c:\windows, that is the default though. Or try typing in the run box "%systemroot%\explorer.exe" __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 09:32 PM	#15 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar The "%systemroot%\explorer.exe" led to the same error message. By clicking browse, we get into a file labeled "program" with many files in it. What should we be looking for?

01-04-2008, 09:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
elf Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 6,177 OS: WinXP Pro SP2 and Slackware 10.1 My System	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar You would be looking for a program that is called explorer.exe, but if %systemroot% didn't find it you probably won't be able to either. Try running %systemroot%\system32\cmd through your task manager. Also, could you look through your task manager and see how many processes are running? __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.

01-04-2008, 09:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
lawdvd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 16 OS: Win98	Re: Wallpaper covering the toolbar %systemroot%\system32\cmd led to a black page with a code line C:\Windows\System 32 The task window shows that as the only thing running