How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes

Hits: 9427 Rating:

(3.19) votes 3798
Rate: 1-star 2-stars 3-stars 4-stars 5-stars
E-mail this PC Troubleshooting FAQ to a friend

E-mail to a friend save

Bookmark this PC Troubleshooting FAQ

Answer:

From time to time, Explorer (the application responsible for the taskbar, desktop, and Start Menu) will crash, and the taskbar and all your desktop icons will disappear. Now, there’s a built-in safeguard for this that relaunches Explorer automatically if such a crash is detected, but it doesn’t always work as it’s designed. For example, if you have a separate Windows Explorer window open and the Launch folder windows in a separate process option (in Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View tab) is enabled, and the taskbar disappears, Windows will mistakenly open another Windows Explorer window instead of reinstating your taskbar and desktop. Here's how to get your taskbar and desktop back:
Close all visible Windows Explorer windows. Other running applications can be left alone.
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del, and then click Task Manager.
In the Windows Task Manager application that appears, select New Task (Run) from the File menu.
Type Explorer and click Ok.