Explorer.exe

Missing Desktop Icons & Taskbar

INFORMATION
Windows Explorer manages the Windows Graphical Shell including the Start menu, taskbar, desktop, and File Manager. By removing this process the graphical interface for Windows will disappear. This program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and should not be terminated.

Missing can occur before or after the boot process. 'explorer.exe' file may be deleted or corrupted in both scenario. This post mainly focused on missing icons and taskbar after the boot process.

Few Tips n Tricks to solve the issue

i) Restore explorer.exe file manually. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del. Go to Application TAB and select ‘New Task’. Type explorer.exe and click OK to restore manually

ii)This issue may occur if the Norton CleanSweep program was installed. Pls refer http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314867

iii) You can also try 'system restore' to a date before you had the explorer.exe problem. If it was long ago, you might not want to do it because it looses all the data saved after the restore point chosen.

If you don't have the taskbar, use Task Manager
Press CTRL+ALT+DEL. File>New Task (Run). Type C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe

OR if you have taskbar, Start>Programs>Accessories>System tool>System retore

iv) Copy the 'explorer.exe' file from 'C:/WINDOWS' folder from any working/healthy(eg., your friend's)computer and paste it in your 'C:/WINDOWS' directory and Restart your system

v) To restore windows ability to gain access to explorer.exe and iexplore .exe please remove the following registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
Execution Options\explorer.exe
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File
Execution Options\iexplorer.exe