Windows XP Desktop screen simply dissappears

[batiso]

Guys

I am basically stunned the whole XP desktop dissapeared even if you try [Ctrl] + [Esc] nuthin. If i do CRTL + ALT + DEL it gives me the windows task manager and i have to use the exe of a program to start the program.

How can I get round this?

[glc]

Get IE running, then go to www.ewido.net and run the free online malware scan.

[Kareeser]

Malware scan is a good idea.

Also, how did this happen? It sounds like you may have inadvertantly crashed explorer.exe, in which case a restart (or just running "explorer.exe" from the Task Manager) could fix it.

[c_alvarado]

By dissappear do you mean that all of your active icons you had are gone. If that is the case did you recently add a new user to your computer account or did you delete an account?????? If not sounds liek spyware or adware run fadware removal tools and such.

[batiso]

Sorry good people for not responding.
It was a Mybot virus. To get rid of it my colleague went to Symantec site and got instructions to maually remove it.
If I ever come across it I will try the scan from. ewido.net.