# Where the F did my Start Bar/desktop go?

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/where-the-f-did-my-start-bar-desktop-go/38544>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\
**Created:** [November 11, 2007, 9:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/where-the-f-did-my-start-bar-desktop-go/38544 "2007-11-11T09:37:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Bigairskier1580](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bigairskier1580/32/7612_2.png) [@Bigairskier1580](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bigairskier1580)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 9:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/where-the-f-did-my-start-bar-desktop-go/38544/1 "2007-11-11T09:37:30Z")

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My computer did a system update a few weeks back,and when it came back up, my start bar and desktop items were MIA.

Turns out explorer.exe won’t stay running. I can run the task, but the bar flickers in the bottom, and then disappear quickly.

I don’t have ANY of my windows cd’s with me so i can’t re-install windows, and a system restore did nothing.

The computer still works, it’s just a bitch to navigate without the taskbar.

Any ideas on what i can do?

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**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 9:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/where-the-f-did-my-start-bar-desktop-go/38544/2 "2007-11-11T09:43:32Z")

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are you sure it’s not hidden in any of the sides? hold the mouse on all 4 sides to make sure it won’t pop out…

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**Author:** ![Clean\_Baldy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/clean_baldy/32/7308_2.png) [@Clean\_Baldy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Clean_Baldy)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2007, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/where-the-f-did-my-start-bar-desktop-go/38544/3 "2007-11-11T09:45:54Z")

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OK, there are a few starter things you can do.

first off, open Task Manager. Either CTRL ALT DEL and choose it, or quicker, CTRL SHIFT ESC

go to File -\>\> Run -\>\>

type MSCONFIG and go to Startup tab. Choose the Disable All at the bottom, and restart the computer. See if that helps the Explorer.exe stay open. If so, its a software issue with something that starts on windows. use MSCONFIG to find it, turning one item on at a time.

If that doesn’t work, go to Task Manager. Run -\>\> CHKDSK /r  
it will open a DOS window, asking you to choose. click Y for Yes. It will run Checkdisk on next startup

Then, try RUN-\>\> SFC /scannow  
this will run the system file checker. it will probably prompt for the windows XP CD. Have it handy.

Keep me informed