I can't get to my desktop because a program (a Motorola product) won't execute. How can I delete the program if I can't get to the control panel? "Stopping the PROCESS" isn't doing anything.OK,, that message was sent from my phone's internet connection. My desktop is back now. It might not have been the Moto program that was the problem (I suspected it because when I would try to shut down the computer that program wouldn't CLOSE). It might have been a Microsoft Update message that wouldn't open. So, I can't say for sure what cause was, but the question still stands - if your desktop items (icons, start button, etc) don't open, what can you do? You can always try starting Explorer.exe (that's the Windows shell, not to be confused with Internet Explorer's iexplore.exe).

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, then under the "Applications" tab, press "New Task..."

Type in: explorer.exe
Press the "OK" button or press ENTER

That will usually cause the desktop and taskbar to load if the computer isn't locked up doing something else. If it starts happening again though, it could be a symptom of a worse problem.And of course you can always boot to safe mode.Hi,
Try to boot in safe mode by following the below mentioned steps:
a). Turn on your computer and keep on pressing F8 key from your keboard.
b). Select Safe Mode With Networking.
c). GOTO the Add/Remove programs under control panel and remove that software.
d). Restart your computer in Normal Mode.

This hopefully should work, please reply.Sorry I didn't get back to this topic sooner, but thanks to everyone who responded.

When I first signed up for Road Runner I had Norton security. When my subscription ran out I stared using the internet security Road Runner provides free, CA (Computer Associates). Road Runner SAID it was just as good, and free. It is NOT just as good and caused me A LOT of problems. Since I switched to Microsoft Essentials, which is also free, I only had trouble with the desk top not appearing once, and the Motorola product shut down right away when I tried to close it from the Task list.have you try use system restore to restore back ?I was told "System Restore" would wipe out all my personal files, my games, everything that didn't come pre-installed. I would never use it!