XP SP2 – Selecting user name only gets user wallpaper, no icons etc

I just installed SP2 on my XP PC (not on a network) and when I reboot, I get the screen with user names, but when I then select a user name all it brings up is that user name’s wallpaper – no icons, shortcuts or taskbar.

Help, please! I’m a bit wary of following the Automatic Recovery procedures as per Microsoft website as I see from some of the discussions that this is not problem-free (e.g., uninstalls drivers ec)