I have a laptop with Vista 64 bit, once I start my computer it is missing icons and start menu. I hit CtlL,ALT,DEL and GET into the task manager. I open new task end enter explorer and all of a sudden all icons and start menu appear.

But once i reboot computer it goes back to no start menu or icons.

Thanks for helpOk, so have you had any hardware/software CHANGES recently? Installed anything? removed anything?YES before that it was on a external monitor plasma screen and i had all desktop on external screen. I was not using laptop screen.Hmmm I dont think that that would have done anything... Any software changes though? Also, the other thing you could try is that perhaps your computer is still using the screen you have hooked up now as the extended desktop perhaps? Right click the desktop and go to personalize>>>>>>display settings. Which numbered monitor is a solid color?No software changes, monitor solid color is 1.On that same screen, is the "this is my main monitor" ticked for the #1 screen?Yes.Okay, ONE LAST question before we try something else. Is the #2 screen a solid color as well? IF not, I have something else you can try.No.Okay, let's try this:

open registry (menu Start -> run (or run Comand prompt): regedit).

open: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ Current
Version \ Winlogon

At right pane there is the "Shell". The value of it should be "explorer.exe"Ok I will try and will advise, thanks for your help.