Blank desktop/missing proccesses

1. Run msconfig ? google and download XP version and put it in System32 folder. Disable startup programs and Non-MS Services. If the problem got resolved, identify the offending program(s) or service(s) and take an appropriate action, uninstall, for example.

2. Run antispyware
Ad-Aware SE Personal http://tinyurl.com/9nj9n
Spybot S&D http://tinyurl.com/yrwy2
Ewido http://tinyurl.com/5b3qh

CWShredder http://tinyurl.com/4y7hy
Adware Away http://tinyurl.com/z29t6
HJT http://tinyurl.com/u5su

3. Uninstall AOL antispyware.

4. Uninstall and reinstall AOL.

5. Reinstall Windows.
http://tinyurl.com/ns7l5

Your solution for a "clean" work is save all your data, (if you have no access from network to computer, take out your HDD from computer, put in one other and save all your data) after this, boot your computer from a boot CD, delete all the partitions, and install Windows with partitioning and formatting. Attentions before copy back your data you need to verify those with a strong antivirus and antispyware.

can you get on with another user? do you think Safe Mode with networking then a AOL upgrade would be worth trying (if it'll). aol had a bug recently that broke stuff oddly. is virus protection up and running?
here is some things the mskb has to say about blank desktop (in case it is not related to aol)

No desktop or a blank desktop appears after you log on to Windows 2000
(836417) - Discusses a problem where you have no desktop or you have a blank desktop after you log on to a Windows 2000-based computer that is running the mIRC program.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836417/en-us

No Desktop or Blank Desktop After Logging On to Windows 2000
(256194) - When you log on to Windows 2000, you may see a blank desktop or no desktop. When this occurs, you can press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to start Task Manager, but Explorer.exe is not listed in the list of running tasks or processes. Starting a new instance of...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256194/en-us

? Your desktop is blank after you apply the MS03-026 security patch on Windows 2000
(838861) - Describes a problem where your desktop is blank after you install the MS03-026 security patch on Windows 2000.
Blank Screen or Operating System Cannot Load Profile at Logon
(162031) - When you log on, you receive the following error message: The operating system was unable to load your profile. Please contact your Network Administrator.(5) Additionally, the logon dialog box may go away, leaving a blank screen, or wallpaper...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/838861/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/162031/en-us