Desktop is black with no icons, Taskbar icons missing +more...

Strugglin · 17 Jun 2017

Hi,
My computer's desktop is blank (black) with no desktop icons.

Desktop is black with no icons, Taskbar icons missing +more...-no-desktop-icons-no-taskbar-icons-i-didnt-delete-i-swear-.png

My task bar icons are missing.
My windows button doesn't open.
I can not access settings (even using CTRL R -> ms-settings: OR right-clicking task-bar. It "times out").
There is "no wireless interface on the system".
My computer constantly gets BSOD (every error possible - i can't remember the error codes. Frequent ones that appear are WatchDogViolation and Memory Management).

I haven't been bothered to fix this problem until recently and was quite happy navigating using CTRL+R but now I'm annoyed. I have tried/watched multiple solutions however, there's always something missing in order to fix the problem, such as opening settings (which i can't do as seen above) or when i feel like i'm almost there, BSOD appears.

This is my last resort before "calling a guy" to help.

If anyone could help that would be great :)

Thanks,

Caledon Ken · 17 Jun 2017

Hi Strugglin. Welcome to the TenForums @Strugglin

First is all your personal data backed up off device?

I would suggest we start with diagnostics. The first tutorial I would suggest runs diagnostics on memory.

MemTest86+ - Test RAM

Let it run through at least two full cycles.

Next I would check storage drive. When you say your Windows button doesn't open, do you mean the Windows Start icon on left of task bar or the Windows Key on your keyboard?

When your machine boots up do you get the password prompt? If so do you see the power icon, lower left. if you click once, then hold down shift key and click restart. This should take you to The Advance Startup Options.

MemTest86+ - Test RAM

If not, power on your machine, as soon as you see the spinning dots hold the power button down until it powers off. Then power on and when you see the dots, hold the power button down until it powers off.

Power on again and it should start with the Advance Startup options. (Windows starts Advance after two failed attempts)

You want to follow it through to Command prompt. (with admin privileges). At command prompt type

chkdsk c: /f /r /v

This should take some time. If it doesn't your OS drive isn't C:.

Post your findings from memory test and chkdsk.

Not sure what you have in the way of personal data and I'm very much hoping you have a backup. For me this is the first thing I would deal with.

While a pain in the a$$ machines can be rebuilt, data not so much.

Do you have bootable media.

Ken

iDamn · 18 Jun 2017

Clean install that sorcery! You'll feel way better, that is if you don't have any precious data laying around in C:/