Using laptop. On my PC I did a system duplicate to an external HD now all I have is a is a blue screen with one icon (outlooK} cant get to all programs system restore I have done reboot & restore

I can go to my computer and see my external hard drive and see the files I backed up Not quite sure what to do?

Thanks in Advance

Okay.. Not sure what exactly you are saying?

You booting your laptop right? Windows is loading? You are getting a Blue Desktop with 1 icon?

That's what I'm gathering anyhow. ok,

Try doing a Ctrl, Alt, Del, and bring up the task manager.

under processes, look for explorer.exe. Is it there? If it is, right click on it and select end task.

Next, in the task manager, click on File, New(Run task), type in explorer.exe.

Does your task bar and everything come back?

If not, please explain further on your problem. What software did you use to make the duplicate, and more specifics on the issue.

Thanks,

BigD

I kinda read that as he's using the laptop as the PC only comes up with 1 icon.
Sounds like you didn't duplicate the drive but moved the whole drive.
You did unplug the external drive prior to rebooting ?
As asked ,what software was used ?

It's my PC that's got the problem. I'm using my lap top to communicate with TC.
My PC looks like it's in safe mode I have some icons in the system tray but none on the screen. I used Retrospect 7.6 for the duplicate. That software will not open but I can open that drive and see some files. I tried to open firefox but I get missing shortcut The backup software screen which I would use to install my duplicate does not open.

Can you,

Click Start, Run, and type in the following?

C:\Windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

this is the path for the All programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore.

Big D

Didn't work somehow my system restore was turned off. Found that last night. I had used restore a few days earlier. The calendar is frozen so I cant go back a month. My computer dose not see my backup drive.
I'll be back later taking a digital media class. Thanks for the help

I'm up running but crippled everything but MS office programs is missing . I had a limited start up menu so I enabled everything and may regular system tray Icons are now active.

Thanks for the help especially the system32 path.

As stated below. I Can,t find the Shell Icon Cache

From MS knowledge data base "Use Windows Explorer to remove the ShellIconCache file from the Windows folder." Still no Icons or internet connection :mad:

Do you have a 'Windows XP' disk or the OEM disk ?
If 'Windows XP' try:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Hi Mike I have the window's OEM disk because I have srv pack 2 & 3 it says I have an old version I have show hidden files on

Below what does remove hidden attribute from file? is that step 2
also I can't find -h shelliconecache

From MS Data base Q1337733

To delete the ShellIconCache:
• at a command prompt, change to the %SystemRoot% folder
• remove the hidden attribute from the file:
type attribute "-h shelliconcache" and press ENTER.
• delete the file:
type del shelliconcache and press ENTER.
• logoff and backon and the default icons should be restored.
TweakUI has been known to corrupt the ShellIconCache.

New info

It's called Iconcache.db in Windows XP. Open this hidden folder:

%Userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data

Locate and delete Iconcache.db

I haven't located this file yet

Went back to see your other posts.
With all you have going on you might consider a format and reinstall.
But ,I'd try the repair install as I posted above.
I do doubt it's going to solve everything as you may have contracted some malware but I'd try it first ,then consider the format/ fresh install.

Yes on reforma.t Does service pack 3 replace everything if so does MS offer a free disk like they did for pack sp 2

Yes SP3 would bring it up to date as far as the release date of SP3.
You would still need to get all the updates that came out post-SP3.
I don't know if MS still offers SP3 on a disk but you could download SP3 and burn a disk.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en

Yes ,it appears to still be available on disk
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsxp/sp3/default.mspx