missing icons in windows 95

Hi everyone,

I have a windows 95 machine. The computer boots but it doesn't have any icons. The background even comes up. I'm not sure what to do. In the computer devices it lists a lot of duplicates. I can remove them but it finds them and reinstall them again. I don't know it that is the source of my problem or not. I am able to boot in safe mode with the icons. Please help.

Thanks

 

Can you see ANY icons on your desktop? Are they just messed up? Have you tried reinstalling windows? If you can access files you download try TweakUI and use it's repair icon feature. As for your device manager I really don't know what to say Sounds like it is either conflicting drivers or messed up windows files...
I recommend reinstalling Windows 98 (from DOS) and see if that fixes your problem
You might also want to make sure you have updated drivers for all your hardware and that you haven't got incorrect drivers installed somewhere!

 

I did do a reinstall of windows. I didn't reformat the hard drive because i didn't want to lose the drivers. I have no icons at all or taskbar for that matter. I'll try tweakui but i don't have much faith in it. Thanks for the suggestion though! Any other suggestions??

Thanks

 

If you have no taskbar or anything even after you reinstall windows that makes things alot more complicated... have you checked your computer for viruses?
Please post a startup list, maybe you have conflicting software at startup?
(You most likely will have to go into Safe Mode to do the following)
Open up your MSConfig tool (if you can't open it by typing 'msconfig' in 'Run' it should be in your windows directory)
Try unchecking all your startup entries but 'Explorer' and 'Systray' and reboot...

Sorry I can't be more help

 

Thanks Hawk, I should have told you. I did try all that already, i have done a complete updated virus scan. I'm just at a point to where i don't know what else to do. It is a customer of mine's pc, that's why i didn't just try loading 98. Thanks for trying to help. All your suggestions are appreciated!