T23 help...Active desktop.. I think?

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BillD · #1 Post by **BillD** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:27 pm

This is hard to explain, so I apologize in advance...

I am using a T23 with WinXP and with an external monitor. I got into 'Display' to try and adjust the size etc. for this external monitor and I 'think' I clicked on something to do with the desktop..

Now I can't get my old desktop back.. The only thing I see is the wallpaper and mouse cursor... No task bar, no icons, no start menu, etc.. So I can't do anything.. It sounds like it's booting up normally, music and all, but it's not coming up to a desktop I can use... Just the wallpaper..

Any keystrokes that I can use?

Any help will be appreciated....

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 2:41 pm

It seems that Windows Explorer is unable to start. The solution of this problem can be the next:

1. Insert your original CD with WinXP Pro into CD/DVD drive and set your PC to boot from it.

2. Select "Repair existing Windows installation" by pressing R key when you will be asked to select an action you want to perform.

3. Select an installation which you want to repair by selecting Windows folder. (Setup will automatically discover all windows installations on your computer)

4. All other steps are similar to standard WinXP installation process.

Another way is to restore your last good configuration. To do this restart your PC and keep pressing F8 to enter Windows XP Boot Menu. In this menu select "Last known good configuration" and continue boot process of your computer with this option.

BillD · #3 Post by **BillD** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:08 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:It seems that Windows Explorer is unable to start. The solution of this problem can be the next:

1. Insert your original CD with WinXP Pro into CD/DVD drive and set your PC to boot from it.

2. Select "Repair existing Windows installation" by pressing R key when you will be asked to select an action you want to perform.

3. Select an installation which you want to repair by selecting Windows folder. (Setup will automatically discover all windows installations on your computer)

4. All other steps are similar to standard WinXP installation process.

Another way is to restore your last good configuration. To do this restart your PC and keep pressing F8 to enter Windows XP Boot Menu. In this menu select "Last known good configuration" and continue boot process of your computer with this option.

I tried the 'last good config' already...No luck..

I'm going to try the repair now...I'll let you know...

Thx

#4 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:12 pm

You probably have activated the dual (extended) monitor setup. With the T23, you can have separate desktops on the LCD and external monitor. Check the settings under the Settings tabs and Display drop-down box and the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" check box.

#5 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:23 pm

That would work IF he could get at the Desktop....

#6 Post by **rkawakami** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:10 pm

According to the first post, he sees the wallpaper and mouse cursor. That's exactly what I see when I extend my desktop onto the second (normally, external) monitor. None of my normal desktop icons appear on the external monitor and I sometimes have to move the cursor down before I get to the taskbar (if the resolution exceeds my monitor).

@BillD: If you haven't already started repairing Windows, try moving the cursor to the extreme down position and see if you get to the taskbar. Right-click anywhere on the wallpapered desktop and see if the pop-up menu appears. If so, select Properties, the Settings tab and see what Display 1 and 2 are set to. Set Display 1 as the IBM Thinkpad LCD panel, check the "Use this device as the primary monitor" box. For Display 2, uncheck the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" box.

edit: Okay, had a chance to play around with this feature.. The taskbar does not extend onto the second desktop and if you do try to get to the Display Properties window, it will appear on the first desktop. So how do you get the window to move to the second desktop if you can't see it with the mouse and drag it? Right after you right-click the desktop and select Properties, press Alt-spacebar and then the M key, followed by holding down the right arrow key. The Alt-spacebar opens the control menu for the last window opened (the Display Properties), the M key selects the Move command and the right arrows will drag the window onto the second desktop. Press the Enter key and the window will lock down onto the desktop where you can then view/change your display settings.

BillD · #7 Post by **BillD** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:52 am

rkawakami wrote:According to the first post, he sees the wallpaper and mouse cursor. That's exactly what I see when I extend my desktop onto the second (normally, external) monitor. None of my normal desktop icons appear on the external monitor and I sometimes have to move the cursor down before I get to the taskbar (if the resolution exceeds my monitor).

@BillD: If you haven't already started repairing Windows, try moving the cursor to the extreme down position and see if you get to the taskbar. Right-click anywhere on the wallpapered desktop and see if the pop-up menu appears. If so, select Properties, the Settings tab and see what Display 1 and 2 are set to. Set Display 1 as the IBM Thinkpad LCD panel, check the "Use this device as the primary monitor" box. For Display 2, uncheck the "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" box.

edit: Okay, had a chance to play around with this feature.. The taskbar does not extend onto the second desktop and if you do try to get to the Display Properties window, it will appear on the first desktop. So how do you get the window to move to the second desktop if you can't see it with the mouse and drag it? Right after you right-click the desktop and select Properties, press Alt-spacebar and then the M key, followed by holding down the right arrow key. The Alt-spacebar opens the control menu for the last window opened (the Display Properties), the M key selects the Move command and the right arrows will drag the window onto the second desktop. Press the Enter key and the window will lock down onto the desktop where you can then view/change your display settings.

Thats what I was looking for, and I am going to bookmark this for the next time.. But I did the repair and all is fine now...

Thx for the replies...

T23 help...Active desktop.. I think?

T23 help...Active desktop.. I think?

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