Dell Notebook, Vista not opening

[johnthehappyguy]

Hi,

My son has a Dell Inspiron laptop, which is outwith warranty.

It was working perfectly until this morning.

On switching on, it comes up with the first Vista Home Premium screen, and then his own user password, then instead of the usual desktop screen with icons, it comes up with "documents" and his own Word files.

The rest of the screen is totally blank, i.e. no "desktop" icons or wallpaper,

He has tried control/alt / delete.

And switched it off, to get safe mode, but he couldn't get much action/success from that - should he persevere further with safe modeor another mode ?

and if so, what to do in safe mode?

He has also taken the battery out for two minutes and it is still the same.

Or do you any suggestions to fix it ?

He has no Vista discs.

Thanks very much in advance,


John

[DavidB]

Does the start menu work (ie from the windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen)?

[DavidY]

:yeah:
Or press the "Windows" key (usually at the bottom row on the left of the keyboard near to Ctrl and Alt, with the Microsoft Windows symbol on it - a picture of a waving flag).

[johnthehappyguy]

Thanks for the messages,

The windows icon was not appearing on the screen at that point.

I tried the "windows" key repeatedly when starting up.

This is the stage we are now at.

The "documents" comes up, pressing ctrl alt delete then gives a vista screen with the task manager option on it.
Pressing task manager
then file
new task
then
typing in explorer
run
gets the desktop and apparently everything back to normal, ( including the full taskbarbar at the bottom with the Windows circle. )
Unfortunately when the computer is powered down, then switched on again, the original problem is back.

Any ideas on how to make this temporary fix, permanent ?

or different things that should be getting tried ?

Thanks again, John

thanks very much

[Miguel]

And switched it off, to get safe mode, but he couldn't get much action/success from that - should he persevere further with safe modeor another mode ?

and if so, what to do in safe mode?

Have a read here: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Vista+startup+documents+blank+screen&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

If you can get into safemode try a restore (rollback) to when the system was working.

[Lee Bartholomew]

The problem is with windows explorer (not internet explorer).

It is a common problem with Vista SP1.

to fix press ctr+alt+del and start task manager. You want to open the registry editor by clicking 'new task' and typing regedit in the open field. Click 'OK'

You want to find the following HKEY_local machine/software/microsoft/WindowsNT/Currentversion/winlogon (click on the + next to HKEY_Local macine, then the + next to software etc (Checking on Windows 7 its an arrow but think it's a + in Vista??)

Click on winlogon and some stuff appears in the right hand box. double click on 'shell' and in the text box where it says 'Value_data' type ' explorer.exe '.

OK that then close the registry editor. Restart your PC and fingers crossed.

Going from memory on a machine that it happened on of mine once, Pulled what hair I had left out. Let me know how you get on.

:grin:

[johnthehappyguy]

The problem is with windows explorer (not internet explorer)..... Pulled what hair I had left out. Let me know how you get on.

:grin:


Thanks again everyone.

All the posts were useful;

The referral to the Vista forum boards was great because I did not know such a forum existed. - but unfortunately a "roll-back" did not work.

The solution that Lee came up with has worked.

My son is absolutely delighted.

Thanks again, everyones help is really appreciated.

John:nice::nice::nice::nice: