ok heres my problem. windows 2k boots up as normal password etc desktop loads, all i get if i put mouse pointer on taskbar is the hourglass icon, no start menu nothing. alt.cntl.del task manager, looks fine nothing unusual, close it and the screen is still there. tried running programmes thru new task some work some dont but every screen/folder that opens on my desktop is left there. even if i drag n drop, i just get an image of the folder all over the screen. no desktop icons work, click tyhem just get the hrglass icon again. left it all day, still the same. ran regedit and nothing in the run once, run services or run folders. plz help as im ready to put it out for the binmen

Do you have your Microsoft disk or the OEM recovery disk?

Can you get online? Run virus scans?

Perhaps try running HijackThis:

Please follow the instructions HERE & then post your log in a new thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.
(Not in this section please).

cant get online. hijack wont run. adaware showing nothing. mscnfig showing nothing

You tried running HijackThis from a floppy or is it on the machine already?

What happens with Safe Mode?

What disks do you have?

hijack is on the pooter. cant install nothing. exactly the same in safe mode. tried system restore. no joy. win2k was already installed on the machine so have no discs

From the task manager try New Task explorer.exe

If this does not bring up your GUI you most likely need to reinstall an Operating System.

If you don't want to buy Windows you might try Knoppix

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html

If you need an ISO burner this one is free:

http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm