Help! Computer crashed - active desktop problem

[Jeanied]

Can anyone give me an idiot's guide as to what to do next?
My computer froze just now, so I turned it off and on again only to be confronted by a nasty white screen with this on


Active Desktop Recovery
Microsoft Windows has experienced an unexpected error. As a precaution, your Active Desktop has been turned off. To restore the Active Desktop, use the following troubleshooting tips:

Did your browser stop working, or did you restart your computer without shutting it down first? If so, click: there is a button here to click


Did you recently change your background to a web page? If so:
1. Right-click the desktop and then click Properties.
2. On the Desktop tab, under Background, click the background you want.

Did you recently add a new item to your Active Desktop? If so:
1. Right-click the desktop and then click Properties.
2. On the Desktop tab, click Customize Desktop.
3. On the Web tab, under Web pages, clear the check box for the item that was added last.

Do you want to turn off your Active Desktop? If so:
1. Right-click the desktop and select Properties.
2. On the Desktop tab, click Customize Desktop.
3. On the Web tab, under Web pages, click to clear all the check boxes.


I tried clicking on the first tab but it says there is a script error on page - now I am in totally in the dark what to do next.
And nowhere can I find my 'active desktop' whatever that is...

HEEELLLPPP!!

[scarey55]

Hello Jean.

Firstly, let me say up front that I am not a computer expert, but...
I found THIS from Microsoft after a bit of Googling. It looks very complicated for me (just a computer user) but there is a fix it for me button. As I said, I am no computer expert but if you don't get an expert soon, you could try it.

Good luck.

ps, do you get the feeling that I'm not a computer expert

[Florence Fennel]

Ooh Jeanie, last time I had a problem like this I had to System Restore, but that is a very last resort. You need someone like Hotstuff methinks.

[Jeanied]

Well Scarey I tried that - it all seemed to go well with a fixit from Microsoft and then -just as I was beginning to cheer up - the nasty white screen with the warning triangle appeared again.

Is it just me that finds that things like this can ruin the whole day?

[scarey55]

...
Is it just me that finds that things like this can ruin the whole day?

Nope, I'm just as bad. These days, we need our computers more and more and when we don't have them it's a real bummer

Sorry it didn't work but it was worth a try. Hopefully help will come along very soon.

[ginger ninger]

Have you run a FULL scan Jeanied? It could have something to do with the virus from last night on Face Slap. Two of my friends are having the same problems. I've had to re-boot mine this morning. And tried Internet Explorer (I use Google Chrome) keeps giving me a code 066 . It won't even load.

[Florence Fennel]

Jeanie I meant it when I said you need Hotstuff or maybe Chris Marks? I'm sure they wouldn't mind helping. I find it a nightmare when things like that happen. I really should get a laptop as back up!

[smallblueplanet]

This might sound daft, but have you shut down (not restart) the pc after doing the above fix? Might be some stuff won't be loaded/removed properly until you have?

[Jeanied]

Good idea Flo - now it is on a go-slow while I do a full scan but pm has been sent to kind experts here!

[Jeanied]

Yes SBP - having learned my lesson from frenzied calls in the past to the IT people at work - I turned it all off, let it cool down (and me) but it was still there when I turned it back on again

Where's the boo hoo smiley when I need it?

[smallblueplanet]

What version of windows & internet explorer are you using?

[Jeanied]

It is Windows XP but not sure which version of explorer it is - how do I find that out?

Now getting seriously embarrassed at my own incompetence

[Florence Fennel]

Don't be embarrassed Jeanie, I'm sure you only drive your car, you're not a mechanic. Sure we know a bit, but not everyone knows even the basics

[smallblueplanet]

In IE window, if 'File / Edit / View/ ..' etc aren't showing along the top, press the alt key. Then go Help/About IE and that will tell you the version...

I did have a quick google about the 'Active desktop' problem and there are lots of answers - ie lots of people have had the problem! But they're not all solved in the same way from what I could see, just looking quickly.

[Jeanied]

All is well folks, thanks to a very kind grape by the name of: tadaaaa
Chrismarks - lovely fella - mad, but lovely!