Grasping at straws ...

Start Menu and Windows Task Bar Are Missing After You Upgrade to Windows XP

Article ID : 818150
Last Review : May 6, 2003
Revision : 1.0
SYMPTOMS

When you upgrade your computer to Microsoft Windows XP, the Start menu and the Windows taskbar may be missing. Also, when you press CTRL+ESC, the Start menu does not appear. However, if you start Windows XP in Safe mode, the Start menu appears correctly.

CAUSE
This problem may occur if you have a built-in video adapter on your computer's motherboard, and then you install second video adapter on your computer.

RESOLUTION
To correct this problem, turn off the built-in video adapter.

For more information about how to turn off the built-in video adapter, see the documentation that came with your computer.

WinXP has provisions for multiple monitors, and the setup can be made without having a second monitor physically present (if you try really hard). It's unlikely a young experimentor c(w)ould install a physical device in a laptop, but attempting to attach an external monitor could result in two drivers pointing to the same display, or a second driver pointing to a disconnected device. It's possible that someone was trying to "install a new device" to change screen resolution, instead of changing the settings for the existing one - even if no real device existed, and the conflict might possibly cause the symptoms seen.

A SAFE MODE boot should let you get to Control Panel, System, Hardware Tab, Device Manager, where you could delete/uninstall all the display drivers. A reboot would let PnP pick up at least a default driver to get the machine functional.

??????? maybe ?? someone poking about in user idents and/or display settings could have had an accident ??

John