Desktop has disappeared (Vista home basic) system restore doesn't help. Any boffins

G

GoingMyWay

New Member
When I log on I get the message

c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable.

Also, my printer program has gone

c:\programfiles\Lexmark5400series\ixctmon.exe abnormal program termination.

The problems all started from Symantec(Norton).

Please help. I can't work.
 

My Computer

System One

Re: Desktop has disappeared (Vista home basic) system restore doesn't help. Any boffi

GoingMyWay said:
When I log on I get the message

c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable.

Also, my printer program has gone

c:\programfiles\Lexmark5400series\ixctmon.exe abnormal program termination.

The problems all started from Symantec(Norton).

Please help. I can't work.
Click to expand...

GoingMyWay said:
Help Please, I am using vista home basic and had subscribed to a free 90 day trial to Norton Internet Security. After successfully installing it there was a security risk I could not resolve. I went on to the Norton help site and had a live chat with a helper.

I foolishly gave him permission to access my computer to fix the fault at his end. He did resolve the security issue but to complete everything I had to restart my computer. After logging in as administrator all of my desktop icons had disappeared. (except the recycle bin). Even my sidebar has gone.

I have tried system restore 3 times to no avail. I have tried getting in touch with Norton again but I keep getting messed about. Also my printer program has disappeared.

The messages that pop up after restart are as follows:-

c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. blah blah blah.

Also:-

c:\programfiles\Lexmark5400series\ixctmon.exe abnormal program termination.

Although my programs are still in the start menu, there is nowhere/no desktop to put them on.

Please help:(

P.S Sorry for the boring essay
Click to expand...

Hi GoingMyWay,

First, I would uninstall Norton completely. It has been know to cause problems with Vista. If it does not uninstall cleanly, you can use the Norton Removal Tool . You might consider using the free Avast antivirus program instead.
http://avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Since you let someone have access to your computer remotely that you did not know, I would recommend that you run a full virus and malware scan.

You then will probably need to run a Repair Install. This tutorial will show you how.
How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista

After this, you will need to reinstall your printer program.

If all this still fails, then you will only be left with doing a complete clean reinstall of Vista. Be sure to backup anything you do want to lose first.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Re: Desktop has disappeared (Vista home basic) system restore doesn't help. Any boffi

Thanks Shawn. I will try them solutions.

How would you recommend backing up my system Would everything fit on to a CD?


Tim Nicebutdim.
 

My Computer

System One

Re: Desktop has disappeared (Vista home basic) system restore doesn't help. Any boffi

Tim,

I would just copy the files you want saved to a CD/DVD. You can then copy them back after reinstalling everything, if you need to do a clean reinstall. Using the Repair Install will not delete anything though.

Shawn
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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