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desktop missing

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9 replies

by greghoutx

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I was installing a software game and when I rebooted, the windows desktop(win 98SE) won't show: no icons, task bar, etc. The same happens when booting into safe mode. I can boot to a command prompt. There I noticed that the system date also moved forward, which leads me to suspect a virus. I restored a prior copy of the registry to no avail. Any help would be appreciated.

9 replies

by thechas

All of your desktop shortcuts are stored in the windows\desktop folder.
Check that they are still there.

While a virus is a possability.
I suspect that the game software either overwrote, or deleted your desktop folder.
Another posability isthat it overwrote your shell.exe or explorer.exe files.

You can check this out by running System File Checker from the run box. (SFC)
As you come across system files that have been changed, you have the option of replacing them with the version on your Windows 98 CD.
REPLACE FILES WITH CAUTION!!!!
A new version of IE, Media Player, DirectX, security patches, etc.. All cause version warnings in SFC.

You are reasonably safe if you replace a file that shows up as an older version than the one registered.

Check the website of the software maker for instructions, or problems related to Windows 98. this may be a common "program" bug.

by timthetoolman

If worst comes to worst, you could always re-install Win98 over the top of your existing installation. Then restore the registry to "get back" most of the stuff you'd previously installed.

You'd lose all your desktop settings, of course.

Before I went that far, I'd be re-installing your drivers and doing a virus scan, though.

Cheers,
Tim.

by greghoutx

I ran a dos-based virus scan and detected magistr.326768@mm aka magistr.b, which should explain the desktop missing. Now I am looking for recovery help. Since I can't get to my Start button, can anyone suggest a way to run SFC any other way?

by greghoutx

I broke down and reinstalled windows over the top of itself, which gave me everything back. Now I just need to go through and make sure there are no remnants of the virus lurking about.

Thanks for your help

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