I have a DELL comp. with Windows XP, I have no desk top icons.. I can turn it on and all there is my screen with my wall paper.. I have no start icon at the bottom either.. I can't get into anything even to try and restore it.. If the screen is empty then how do I get into it??

P. Perez, May 2006

Are you icons just 'hidden'. Can you get your start menu up by pressing the windows key on your keyboard? If so then you icons may be hidden. Right click on a empty space on your desktop goto 'Arrange Icons By', go down and click on 'Show Desktop Icons'.
If this hasnt helped either, there may be no other way but to re-install

Simon, May 2006

Have you tried to restart the computer in "safe mode"?

Your menu bar may just be hidden, or your screen resolution may be higher then what your monitor can handle. Without seeing the machine it is hard to say. "Safe mode" will allow you to fix these and other issues.

1) Turn on the computer.
2) Start tapping the F8 key while it is booting-up.
3) The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.
4) Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.
5) Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.
6) When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

You can also access System Restore in "Safe Mode".

If this doesn't work you may need to re-install Windows.

inmail, May 2006