Missing taskbar and other problems...

I've been asked to have a look at a neighbour's pc. Apparently last night
they were running AVGs virus scanner when the pc started doing 'strange
things'. I went to have a look at it and the pc no longer has the taskbar
and most shortcuts on the desktop are non-functional. They still have the
wallpaper that they had put on.

I managed to get into the task manager and could see most files/programs in
explorer but not all. Internet Explorer is one that I couldn't see. Clicking
on its desktop shortcut just sends the hard drive nuts for a minute but then
it calms down and doesn't load the program.

I thought I'd try to use the System Restore but am having difficulty in
locating it using explorer. After using Vista for a couple of years
unfortunately I'm rather rusty when it comes to XP so may not be looking in
the right place for it anyway!

Can anyone advise what I can do to sort their pc out without having to
resort to formatting it as the pc was built by a one-man band who didn't
supply them with any Windows Disk. BTW, if it helps, the case says it's a HP
but knowing where they got it from, that may not be what's inside it - I've
yet to look.

Net

On Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:23:26 +0100, "Netty" wrote:


I've been asked to have a look at a neighbour's pc. Apparently last night
they were running AVGs virus scanner when the pc started doing 'strange
things'. I went to have a look at it and the pc no longer has the taskbar
and most shortcuts on the desktop are non-functional. They still have the
wallpaper that they had put on.

I managed to get into the task manager and could see most files/programs in
explorer but not all. Internet Explorer is one that I couldn't see. Clicking
on its desktop shortcut just sends the hard drive nuts for a minute but then
it calms down and doesn't load the program.

I thought I'd try to use the System Restore but am having difficulty in
locating it using explorer. After using Vista for a couple of years
unfortunately I'm rather rusty when it comes to XP so may not be looking in
the right place for it anyway!

Can anyone advise what I can do to sort their pc out without having to
resort to formatting it as the pc was built by a one-man band who didn't
supply them with any Windows Disk. BTW, if it helps, the case says it's a HP
but knowing where they got it from, that may not be what's inside it - I've
yet to look.

Net

D/l and run http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Real truth mvp is a troll .

"Jim" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:23:26 +0100, "Netty" wrote:


I've been asked to have a look at a neighbour's pc. Apparently last night
they were running AVGs virus scanner when the pc started doing 'strange
things'. I went to have a look at it and the pc no longer has the taskbar
and most shortcuts on the desktop are non-functional. They still have the
wallpaper that they had put on.

I managed to get into the task manager and could see most files/programs
in
explorer but not all. Internet Explorer is one that I couldn't see.
Clicking
on its desktop shortcut just sends the hard drive nuts for a minute but
then
it calms down and doesn't load the program.

I thought I'd try to use the System Restore but am having difficulty in
locating it using explorer. After using Vista for a couple of years
unfortunately I'm rather rusty when it comes to XP so may not be looking
in
the right place for it anyway!

Can anyone advise what I can do to sort their pc out without having to
resort to formatting it as the pc was built by a one-man band who didn't
supply them with any Windows Disk. BTW, if it helps, the case says it's a
HP
but knowing where they got it from, that may not be what's inside it -
I've
yet to look.

Net

D/l and run http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Real truth mvp is a troll .

Unfortunately I can't get IE to load on the pc. Also when I try to run the
system restore I get an error message stating 'system restore is not able to
protect your system. Reboot and try again'. After a reboot I still get the
system restore error. Does this mean there are no restore points saved on
the pc?

I ran AVG Free edition which was already on the pc but that turned up
nothing.

I'm thinking that formatting and starting again is my only option now unless
anyone has any other ideas???