Vista - task bar and start menu failure

I installed vista a few weeks ago, then one day when starting up my laptop,
my tool bar and my start menu, inculding my desktop will not show. it opens
up my docs, and from there i can access everything except the task bar and
start menu in the control panel. when it does start up i get a message
saying" service executable file was not found or stopped working"!!! windows
does not have a solution and i have took it to a repair shop and they
scratched their heads saying they aint never seen anything like it. i have
reinstalled vista but with no joy!! someone please help if you have seen this
before.

"jon_hrv" <jon_hrv@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:44AAFBBF-8A7F-49A8-8280-69D78AAF66E2@microsoft.com...
>I installed vista a few weeks ago, then one day when starting up my laptop,
> my tool bar and my start menu, inculding my desktop will not show. it
> opens
> up my docs, and from there i can access everything except the task bar and
> start menu in the control panel. when it does start up i get a message
> saying" service executable file was not found or stopped working"!!!
> windows
> does not have a solution and i have took it to a repair shop and they
> scratched their heads saying they aint never seen anything like it. i have
> reinstalled vista but with no joy!! someone please help if you have seen
> this
> before.

Jon, when something such as this happens, try using System Restore under
Accessories\System Tools on the start menu Before resorting to a reinstall
since the reinstall usually removes or otherwise destroys the restore
points. System Restore is a less invasive and generally non-destructive
option.

You don't have a lot of options at the moment but here are two other
possibilities. Check the following two links with regard to SFC /Scannow:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/en-us
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

The second link refers to XP but the page explains the function which also
works in Vista.

The second option is a repair of Vista. This is different from a reinstall
which you've already done as the repair option actually looks for files that
may be corrupted or possible other issues that might be the cause of a
problem. Boot to the Vista CD and choose the Repair option at the setup
screen as opposed to install.

--
Michael Solomon
Backup is a PC user's best friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Thanks michael,

i tried system restore as one of the first things to do, just forgot to add
it!!! i tried the sfc /scannow but it didnt find any probs. i have found out
it is a explore.exe problem, as soon as i run task mngr and type it in the
run box it loads up the page and everythiong works fine until i restart as it
starts all over again, but at least i have a way ahead now.

"Michael Solomon" wrote:

>
>
> "jon_hrv" <jon_hrv@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:44AAFBBF-8A7F-49A8-8280-69D78AAF66E2@microsoft.com...
> >I installed vista a few weeks ago, then one day when starting up my laptop,
> > my tool bar and my start menu, inculding my desktop will not show. it
> > opens
> > up my docs, and from there i can access everything except the task bar and
> > start menu in the control panel. when it does start up i get a message
> > saying" service executable file was not found or stopped working"!!!
> > windows
> > does not have a solution and i have took it to a repair shop and they
> > scratched their heads saying they aint never seen anything like it. i have
> > reinstalled vista but with no joy!! someone please help if you have seen
> > this
> > before.
>
> Jon, when something such as this happens, try using System Restore under
> Accessories\System Tools on the start menu Before resorting to a reinstall
> since the reinstall usually removes or otherwise destroys the restore
> points. System Restore is a less invasive and generally non-destructive
> option.
>
> You don't have a lot of options at the moment but here are two other
> possibilities. Check the following two links with regard to SFC /Scannow:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/en-us
> http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
>
> The second link refers to XP but the page explains the function which also
> works in Vista.
>
> The second option is a repair of Vista. This is different from a reinstall
> which you've already done as the repair option actually looks for files that
> may be corrupted or possible other issues that might be the cause of a
> problem. Boot to the Vista CD and choose the Repair option at the setup
> screen as opposed to install.
>
> --
> Michael Solomon
> Backup is a PC user's best friend
> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>

"jon_hrv" <jonhrv@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:42A140BD-EE1A-4FDB-AD72-3ACA69FF61E3@microsoft.com...
> Thanks michael,
>
> i tried system restore as one of the first things to do, just forgot to
> add
> it!!! i tried the sfc /scannow but it didnt find any probs. i have found
> out
> it is a explore.exe problem, as soon as i run task mngr and type it in the
> run box it loads up the page and everythiong works fine until i restart as
> it
> starts all over again, but at least i have a way ahead now.
>
> "Michael Solomon" wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> "jon_hrv" <jon_hrv@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:44AAFBBF-8A7F-49A8-8280-69D78AAF66E2@microsoft.com...
>> >I installed vista a few weeks ago, then one day when starting up my
>> >laptop,
>> > my tool bar and my start menu, inculding my desktop will not show. it
>> > opens
>> > up my docs, and from there i can access everything except the task bar
>> > and
>> > start menu in the control panel. when it does start up i get a message
>> > saying" service executable file was not found or stopped working"!!!
>> > windows
>> > does not have a solution and i have took it to a repair shop and they
>> > scratched their heads saying they aint never seen anything like it. i
>> > have
>> > reinstalled vista but with no joy!! someone please help if you have
>> > seen
>> > this
>> > before.
>>
>> Jon, when something such as this happens, try using System Restore under
>> Accessories\System Tools on the start menu Before resorting to a
>> reinstall
>> since the reinstall usually removes or otherwise destroys the restore
>> points. System Restore is a less invasive and generally non-destructive
>> option.
>>
>> You don't have a lot of options at the moment but here are two other
>> possibilities. Check the following two links with regard to SFC
>> /Scannow:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/en-us
>> http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
>>
>> The second link refers to XP but the page explains the function which
>> also
>> works in Vista.
>>
>> The second option is a repair of Vista. This is different from a
>> reinstall
>> which you've already done as the repair option actually looks for files
>> that
>> may be corrupted or possible other issues that might be the cause of a
>> problem. Boot to the Vista CD and choose the Repair option at the setup
>> screen as opposed to install.
>>
>> --
>> Michael Solomon
>> Backup is a PC user's best friend
>> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>

Jon, thanks for letting me know.

If explorer.exe is the designated application, this usually indicates a
conflict of some kind. Have you made sure all your applications are up to
date and fully Vista compatible? Have you made sure all your hardware
drivers are up to date. Is there anything you might have installed or
removed recently or shortly before all this began?
--
Michael Solomon
Backup is a PC user's best friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/