NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, Hamilay has more tech problems. For a while now I've had trouble with my computer; sometimes the icons and the start menu- pretty much everything on the desktop- disappears. Sometimes it's preceded by a popup "C++ Runtime Error" but not always. I have to reboot the computer to get my icons and start menu back, since I can't do anything. All currently open windows function normally. Any ideas what might be causing this?

Gremlins?

*lays gremlin bait*

Have you never seen the film? DON'T feed them! :D

get a new computer.

Yes, Hamilay has more tech problems. For a while now I've had trouble with my computer; sometimes the icons and the start menu- pretty much everything on the desktop- disappears. Sometimes it's preceded by a popup "C++ Runtime Error" but not always. I have to reboot the computer to get my icons and start menu back, since I can't do anything. All currently open windows function normally. Any ideas what might be causing this?

A few NSG people tried to help with your "blue monitor" problem, but you never said if you'd fixed the problem. I'm assuming you did.

You don't actually have to thank anyone for the free advice, but you could at least say when you've solved the problem. So we could have some idea of whether we were right, wrong or irrelevant.

OK. Just like last time, I've got to ask: does anyone else have physical access to your computer? Can they boot it up and fiddle with things?
Probably doesn't apply to modern OS's, but there used to be a keyboard hack to move the Start menu (win 98 I think). You didn't need software, just a sequence of keystrokes. It went something like Open Start menu with mouse, press Alt-f4 (or whatever alt sequence gives Properties), choose move, move menu, press Esc. Something LIKE that I say, it's from memory.
Could some lighthearted flatmate or smartass offspring be doing these things to mess with your head?

Next most likely prospect is your Windows is owned by a hacker. One who likes a bit of fun, like in the old days :nostalgia:

Least likely is that there something physically wrong with your puter.
"Buy a new computer" is advice is specifically do not endorse. New puters have entirely new and unfamiliar problems (they go fast tho, so it's a judgement call)
Reinstall Windows is pretty obvious. Back up everything you made or downloaded. Format C: and reinstall.

Windows works OK out of the box. It's all downhill from there, it gets slower and slower and eats a lot of junk food if you have it on the 'net. If it's been a year since you clean installed Windows, I'd say you're lucky.

EDIT: Just as with your "Blue Monitor" you didn't respond to the very sensible question "Is it a CRT monitor, or LCD?" you haven't said what version of Windows it is you are using. XP hides some of the Start menu (it's called Personalized Menus, and you can turn it off by right clicking on the Start button and fiddling with Properties), and either starts with a blank desktop (I only really know Pro tho) or soon moves to a blank desktop. Right click on a blank bit of desktop, Properties again, 'Use Windows Classic Desktop' ... oh and turn all the drop shadows and zoom windows crap off too. It's like pimping your ride with half a ton of nice pink stucco. Bah.

I did respond to that thread, the problem was fixed.
No one has physical access to my computer. I'm using XP, the properties window doesn't appear when I click on blank desktop, once everything has gone. It's been more like three years since I clean installed Windows...

It's something else you may be running, but you don't say what you have installed. Anyway, here's a possibility: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307817

It seems to be not displaying the C++ error lately and just having everything disappear. Thanks for the link Iztatepopotla, but it didn't really help since I don't seem to be running that process. I don't really have the facilities or time to back up all my stuff and reinstall everything, so I might just have to live with this.

Yes, Hamilay has more tech problems. For a while now I've had trouble with my computer; sometimes the icons and the start menu- pretty much everything on the desktop- disappears. Sometimes it's preceded by a popup "C++ Runtime Error" but not always. I have to reboot the computer to get my icons and start menu back, since I can't do anything. All currently open windows function normally. Any ideas what might be causing this?

Seems like your Explorer crashes.

Until you get to reinstall windows, try the following workaround, when you get this problem again:

Press alt+ctrl+del.

This should open the Task Manager.

Click on "Task Manager" and select the "Processes" Tab.

Shut down the "explorer.exe" process.

Select the "Applications" Tab.

Click on "New Task".

Browse to your Windows directory and select "explorer.exe".

This should do the trick.