Q: HPCS, please help! I’ve got no desktop shortcuts or start menu visible on my Windows XP computer at home. I’ve tried pressing the windows button on the keyboard, but still it doesn’t appear. Please, please, please can you help fix this!

Julie, Essex

A: Julie, thankfully there should be a simple resolution for this. Following the steps outlined below, should result in your desktop and start menu being  visible and working correctly once more.

1. Download the following file and save it to your C:\ Drive:  NoDesktop.reg
2. On your keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, select ‘Task Manager’
3. Click ‘File’ -> Click ‘New Task (Run…)
4. Type C:\
5. Press OK
6. Double click on the NoDesktop.reg file you saved above
7. Select Yes to any prompts
8. Restart your computer
9. Your issue should now be resolved, with all shortcuts and the start menu visible once again.

We have tested this and it has worked on the occasions we have experienced the issue Julie raised above.

*Be careful when modifying the Registry. We offer this advice as-is, with no kind of guarentee or responsibility. Do this at your own risk.*