Windows Desktop Wallpaper Loads Only & Hour Glass

[Handy Andy]

Hello,

This is a problem I have been dealing with on many computers for years. I hope someone can help me with this.

When Windows starts up I get the desktop background or wallpaper picture, and sometimes the taskbar loads too.

When I move the cursor down over the taskbar, the cursor just changes to an hourglass and I can't click on anything.

I learned a trick to sort of temporarily fix this problem by doing the following:

Press CTRL + ALT + Delete

Click on the Processes tab

Click on explorer.exe from the list

Press delete and then press enter

Press CTRL + ALT + Delete

Click on the Applications tab

Click on the New Task... button at the bottom

Type explorer.exe and press enter

This quickly reloads the desktop and taskbar, and allows my to see my icons and be able to click on things again.

It works, but it is only temporary and has to be done every time I restart my computer.

I was hoping that someone could help me find a permanent solution to this problem.

Thanks.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

This is something I've never seen before, and it seems strange that you have seen it on "many computers".

I can only assume that you have some application (or device driver) installed that causes this behavior. Also, are you sure that your computer is free of malware?

B.t.w. what is your Windows version?

[Handy Andy]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

This is something I've never seen before, and it seems strange that you have seen it on "many computers".

I can only assume that you have some application (or device driver) installed that causes this behavior. Also, are you sure that your computer is free of malware?

B.t.w. what is your Windows version?

Thanks for your reply. My windows version is XP Home SP3. Which I have had this problem before and after upgrading from SP2 to SP3.

I can't tell you how many computers or customers rather that I have had to give them those instructions to restart explorer.exe.

It really makes me look bad when I do reinstall jobs for people. I know I don't have any malware or virus of any kind, because it

can happen just after a few restarts after I had just installed a fresh copy of windows. I have had this problem on may different

brands and models of PCs including ones that I have custom built.

I would even resort to a program that would just end explorer.exe and re-load it. If that is possible?

I don't know how a program like that would work if the system freezes before loading things in the start up folder.

I am desperate to finally figure out a solution to this. It is frustrating to follow the steps in my last post every time I start my computer.

Also, once following those steps the computer and Windows runs better than perfect.

I have a feeling it could be a matter of disabling something that runs at start up, but when I run msconfig I have no idea where to begin.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Better than msconfig is Startup Inspector; it shows you more, and also it can give you explanations of what (certain) items are.

If you can give us a list what shows in there, we may help you to diagnose what is essential and what is not.

[Handy Andy]

Better than msconfig is Startup Inspector; it shows you more, and also it can give you explanations of what (certain) items are.

If you can give us a list what shows in there, we may help you to diagnose what is essential and what is not.

Ok, here is a screen shot of the list. Thanks again.

[Hb_Kai]

I know that Google Desktop can sometimes decrease a computer's performance. Though it may not be the problem with your PC, try disabling it from starting up and then see how your computer starts up. If that's not the problem it could be a device driver like Pat said or malware, viri or something so try scanning with a decent scanner like Trend Micro may help find a problem.

[Handy Andy]

I know that Google Desktop can sometimes decrease a computer's performance. Though it may not be the problem with your PC, try disabling it from starting up and then see how your computer starts up. If that's not the problem it could be a device driver like Pat said or malware, viri or something so try scanning with a decent scanner like Trend Micro may help find a problem.

Thanks, but this problem has occurred before there even was a Google Desktop program.

[MANEMAN]

I would try this link if I were you: XP For Handy Andy

"This is a problem I have been dealing with on many computers for years." "It really makes me look bad when I do reinstall jobs for people." " I have had this problem on many different

brands and models of PCs including ones that I have custom built."

Obviously something not working out, or sounding quite right here Andy. On oh so many levels.

[Handy Andy]

I would try this link if I were you: XP For Handy Andy

"This is a problem I have been dealing with on many computers for years." "It really makes me look bad when I do reinstall jobs for people." " I have had this problem on many different

brands and models of PCs including ones that I have custom built."

Obviously something not working out, or sounding quite right here Andy. On oh so many levels.

Thanks I'll give that a try as soon as I get to backing up my stuff.

[Handy Andy]

I would try this link if I were you: XP For Handy Andy

"This is a problem I have been dealing with on many computers for years." "It really makes me look bad when I do reinstall jobs for people." " I have had this problem on many different

brands and models of PCs including ones that I have custom built."

Obviously something not working out, or sounding quite right here Andy. On oh so many levels.

Thanks I'll give that a try as soon as I get to backing up my stuff.

No luck with that. I followed the instructions on the link you gave me, but as always it only bought me some time and then the problem starts all over again.

[Dave in Phoenix]

This is a bit old thread but found it.

This problem of the hourglass on the task bar and everything locks up using first XP SP2 and now with SP3 and on BOTH my main computer and my laptop. I can't get to the task manager everthing locked up no matter how long I wait.

Rebooting (sometimes twice) usually solves and it is very intermittent.

Doing a lot of Goggling.. this problem is widely reported even back in 2004 with vary different solutions for different people.

Some solve it by turning off the SSDP Discovery Service. Others if they have it a Workstation service. But no solution seems to work for everyone and it doesn't not seem virus or maleware related. I've checked my system with 5 different combinations of virus and malaware and have constant protection. Others report the same there is no virus via different programs.

Maybe the solution is Win 7 but I don't have time to tackle that yet !