Win XP SP2 Blank Desktop

I downloaded the SP2 from the Internet (have broadband).
Once installed it calls for the restart. That is where
the problem begins. It boots back to the WinXP wallpaper
(Green grass on hill) and that's all it does. No icons,
no nothing. Rebooted and get the same. Used Safe Mode to
recover prior to SP2. Ordered the CD with the same
results. I uninstalled my virus scanner and firewall so
there would no problems with them. Have ASUS P4C800
motherboard, P4 3.0ghz w/HT, 1GB RAM.

Any ideas??

I got the exact same thing.

Booted to Safe mode, and turned off all my startup
programs using msconfig. Rebooted to normal, then I
managed to bring up the desktop, but nothing would run.
Could not get task manager, systems properties, or
windows explorer. I'd click on them, get the hour glass
for a few seconds, then, nothing.....

The only thing that would run was an old 16-bit app
(cruel.exe card game)!

So I did a system restore and am back on SP1. I, like
you have a "home built" pc with a ASUS motherboard and an
AMD athlon 1.7GHZ processor.

Would really like to see someone explain this.

>-----Original Message-----
>I downloaded the SP2 from the Internet (have
broadband).
>Once installed it calls for the restart. That is where
>the problem begins. It boots back to the WinXP
wallpaper
>(Green grass on hill) and that's all it does. No icons,
>no nothing. Rebooted and get the same. Used Safe Mode
to
>recover prior to SP2. Ordered the CD with the same
>results. I uninstalled my virus scanner and firewall so
>there would no problems with them. Have ASUS P4C800
>motherboard, P4 3.0ghz w/HT, 1GB RAM.
>
>Any ideas??
>.
>

I also got the same result after installing SP2 on my
Gateway computer.

Neither Microsoft or Gateway can resolve this porblem. I
installed the SP2 twice from Windows Update and again
twice from the Microsoft CD and obtained the same results.

If there is anyone who can solve this problem there are
many out here that would appreciate the answer.

>-----Original Message-----
>I got the exact same thing.
>
>Booted to Safe mode, and turned off all my startup
>programs using msconfig. Rebooted to normal, then I
>managed to bring up the desktop, but nothing would run.
>Could not get task manager, systems properties, or
>windows explorer. I'd click on them, get the hour glass
>for a few seconds, then, nothing.....
>
>The only thing that would run was an old 16-bit app
>(cruel.exe card game)!
>
>So I did a system restore and am back on SP1. I, like
>you have a "home built" pc with a ASUS motherboard and
an
>AMD athlon 1.7GHZ processor.
>
>Would really like to see someone explain this.
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I downloaded the SP2 from the Internet (have
>broadband).
>>Once installed it calls for the restart. That is where
>>the problem begins. It boots back to the WinXP
>wallpaper
>>(Green grass on hill) and that's all it does. No
icons,
>>no nothing. Rebooted and get the same. Used Safe Mode
>to
>>recover prior to SP2. Ordered the CD with the same
>>results. I uninstalled my virus scanner and firewall
so
>>there would no problems with them. Have ASUS P4C800
>>motherboard, P4 3.0ghz w/HT, 1GB RAM.
>>
>>Any ideas??
>>.
>>
>.
>

Hi, Sam, Dave, and Ray;

Not sure what is causing this, but perhaps a solution is to download and
install the latest drivers for your graphics card. For each of you, what
graphics card is installed? Or if a chipset on the MB, who is the OEM?

--

....Sky

================


Sam Freeman wrote:
> I also got the same result after installing SP2 on my
> Gateway computer.

>-----Original Message-----
>I downloaded the SP2 from the Internet (have broadband).
>Once installed it calls for the restart. That is where
>the problem begins. It boots back to the WinXP wallpaper
>(Green grass on hill) and that's all it does. No icons,
>no nothing. Rebooted and get the same. Used Safe Mode to
>recover prior to SP2. Ordered the CD with the same
>results. I uninstalled my virus scanner and firewall so
>there would no problems with them. Have ASUS P4C800
>motherboard, P4 3.0ghz w/HT, 1GB RAM.
>
>Any ideas??
>.
>

I'm another "me too". I have a Asus p4c800 deluxe P4
2.4ghz, and a gig of ram. From the time the bkg shows up
until the icons appear is about 2.5 MINS!! I've updated all
the hardware drivers: mobo, vid (ati 9600 pro), even the
3com GbitEn. The only thing I can figure out after probing
around is that my computer it trying to contact a DHCP
server to get an IP address (look at the event veiwer). (I
have DSL) the nic gets assigned the default 169.254.x.x, no
biggie, but it seems that the timeout is way too long or
something! Other than that everything works fine on my
computer.

Hi;

3dken wrote:
>
> I'm another "me too".

Don't think this is really a "me too" is it? From your post you do get the
icons and taskbar to show on your screen, right?

> .... From the time the bkg shows up
> until the icons appear is about 2.5 MINS!! ...

If I'm understanding correctly, your problem isn't a blank desktop, but
rather that XP takes a longer time to boot than what you expect. Yes?

Not sure about the DHCP assignment, but obviously that is something to
investigate. You should check that your system has the correct information
as provided by your ISP/network-provider.

One of the first things that comes to mind is that you might have some kind
of malware infestation that is trying to "phone home" during boot.

I'd suggest you check the Startup section of MSconfig to see what is getting
loaded at bootup. Some good info on what should/shouldn't be in that list
is here: http://aumha.org/a/loads.php (watch for the XP specific things).
And certainly check out the "How to perform a clean boot" in
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310353

Also use something like Adaware (or others of that ilk) to check your system
for uglies. You can download a freeware version of AdAware from links
found here: http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/


--

....Sky

================