How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes Intended For Windows Vista Windows XP Windows 2003 Windows 2000 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. Note: so far, a cause for the frequent crashing of Explorer in Windows 2000 and Windows XP hasn't been found, but when it has been discovered, a solution will be posted here at Annoyances.org. Written by: Annoyances.org Last updated: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 Care to discuss this article with other Windows users? Select your operating system here, and click Continue to post your question. - Choose your OS -Windows 7Windows VistaWindows Server 2003Windows XPWindows 2000Windows MeWindows 98Windows 95 Previous discussions about this article: (open a message to see applicable responses, if any) [Windows 98] Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' (Benjamin: Friday, January 4, 2002) [Windows 2000] Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' (Richard: Thursday, January 10, 2002) [Windows 2000] Another way (Raymond Hicks: Sunday, February 3, 2002) [Windows XP] Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' (Mark: Friday, February 8, 2002) [Windows XP] Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' (Mark: Friday, February 8, 2002) [Windows 95] Question about 'How do get the taskbar and desktop back if Explorer crashes' (Dave Harding: Tuesday, February 26, 2002) [Windows XP] 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