Computer desktop is loading without tasbar or desktop icons.

Viruses and worms
1

Hello,

First of all, I’m not very good with computers, but I hope you won’t misunderstand my problem neither what I have written here.
I have had a problem with my PC for about a week now. Every now and then when I boot up my computer, the desktop appears without a taskbar or icons and only my background is being displayed. As a quite dumb person with computers, I’ve took the liberty to run my PC in safe mode and do a system restore after that. I don’t have a really good anti-virus program and Microsoft Security Essentials seems to have no problems at all. I’ve also tried to scan my computer with another scanners, finding about 10-15 malware files. After removing them and doing a restart on my computer, the problem doesn’t seem to sort itself out. I’ve ran out of ways to solve this myself, but as I already told you, I’m bad at computers.

Thanks in advance,
Mark

2

Hi lets see if this is malware or the system

[*] Download RogueKiller and save it on your desktop.

NOTE: If using IE8 or better Smartscreen Filter will need to be disabled

[*]Quit all programs
[*] Start RogueKiller.exe.
[*] Wait until Prescan has finished …
[*] Click on Scan

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RKScan.GIF

[*]Wait for the end of the scan.
[*] The report has been created on the desktop.
[*] Click on the Delete button.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RKDelete.GIF

[*]The report has been created on the desktop.

[*]Next click on the ShortcutsFix

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RKFixShortcuts.GIF

[*]The report has been created on the desktop.

Please post: All RKreport.txt text files located on your desktop.

THEN

Download OTL to your Desktop
Secondary link

[*]Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/OTL_Main_Tutorial.gif

[*]Select All Users
[*]Under the Custom Scan box paste this in

netsvcs
BASESERVICES
%SYSTEMDRIVE%*.exe
/md5start
services.*
explorer.exe
winlogon.exe
Userinit.exe
svchost.exe
winsock.*
/md5stop
CREATERESTOREPOINT

[*]Click the Run Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
[*]When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. These are saved in the same location as OTL.
[*]Attach both logs

3

Mark, welcome to avast! forums.

I suggest two things:

  1. Start > type “cmd” (without the quotes) > then type
    sfc /scannow

    Then boot. Let’s check if it helps.

  2. Uninstall MSE using the Control Panel and install avast! :slight_smile:
    Run a full scanning with avast!

4

I added 4 of the RK logs to this post.
Also, the solution provided by Tech had no result as I had to run my PC in Safe Mode after the reboot, as the PC did the same thing all over again.

5

You should have the desktop available now, if not I will see what OTL tells me

6

Added the OTL files.

7

No apparent malware there

Could you right click the desktop and select View > Show desktop icons

Is the toolbar visible at all ?

8

The toolbar isn’t visible, although I can access the right click menu. CTRL+ALT+DELETE brings up a black screen.
EDIT: I rebooted the PC and it started normally. Also, what should I do with RK Quarantine? There’s also a file named _iw3sp on desktop now.

I’m really glad this thing worked out now and thanks for your help. If I still have problems regarding this one, I’ll return to this topic as soon as possible :slight_smile:

9

That is related to call of duty

As for the RK stuff once you are happy I will remove that and OTL

10

Should I empty the RK_Quarantine folder or even delete it from my desktop? Or should I leave it there in case something happens again?
Thanks in advance.

11

If you are happy then run OTL and press the cleanup button … RK should then disappear

12

I didn’t want to make any more topics, so I decided to reply to this one.
So, it seems like my old problem has returned. Today, about half an hour ago I booted my computer. For my surprise, the desktop came up, taskbarless and without folders, as it did last time. I’m guessing it’s related to the winlogon.exe, because my loading screen remained black aswell. I hope you can sort this thing out.

13

OK lets go deeper

Download and Install Combofix

Download ComboFix from one of the following locations:
Link 1
Link 2

VERY IMPORTANT !!! Save ComboFix.exe to your Desktop

  • IMPORTANT - Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools. If you have difficulty properly disabling your protective programs, refer to this link here

[*]Double click on ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.
[*]Accept the disclaimer and allow to update if it asks

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/NSIS_disclaimer_ENG.png

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/ried7/NSIS_extraction.png

[*]When finished, it shall produce a log for you.
[*]Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply.

Notes:

  1. Do not mouse-click Combofix’s window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.
  2. Do not “re-run” Combofix. If you have a problem, reply back for further instructions.
  3. If after the reboot you get errors about programmes being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.

Please make sure you include the combo fix log in your next reply as well as describe how your computer is running now

14

Attached the log. Should I reboot my PC now and see what happens?

15

Yes please, Combofix showed no sign of the malware that would cause this

Can you right click the desktop and set a new wallpaper and show desktop icons as before
Also is the taskbar minimised

16

Yeah, I rebooted and no success.
I can’t set a new wallpaper. The taskbar is not minimised.

17

Could you restart the computer in safe mode

The answer was to start up in "Safe Mode" and then take a look at my monitor setup (I got there via "Adjust Screen Resolution"). I found that the monitor was set up for 2 monitors instead of just one. I set it to just the one monitor and I've never had the problem again.
18

I’m in safe mode right now and I can see that under the option “Display” there is only one option, which is “Default monitor on”.
No sign of setups for 2 monitors though.
EDIT: I did a system restore to a date back and the screen just freezed. I could only move my cursor around.

19

Run RogueKiller again

[*] Download RogueKiller and save it on your desktop.

NOTE: If using IE8 or better Smartscreen Filter will need to be disabled

[*]Quit all programs
[*] Start RogueKiller.exe.
[*] Wait until Prescan has finished …
[*] Click on Scan

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RKScan.GIF

[*]Wait for the end of the scan.
[*] The report has been created on the desktop.
[*] Click on the Delete button.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RKDelete.GIF

[*]The report has been created on the desktop.

[*]Next click on the ShortcutsFix

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RKFixShortcuts.GIF

[*]The report has been created on the desktop.

Please post: All RKreport.txt text files located on your desktop.