So my PC is windows XP SP2, custom brand, ANYWAYS, when I start my PC, and choose my user profile, I get inside and it tells me welcome and all that crap then it doesn't load anything, it just shows me the task bar and the icons on my desktop with nothing in the quick launch and I can't click anything, and in sys. restore it says no restore points <_

antivirus & antispyware protection / service packs installed / when did it start happening / did it ever work right / installed any new SOFTWARE?

Alan <>< Wait a while.
Once I had a virus like that and the effect of the virus was to slow down the startup.
I had to wait 2-3 minutes before my icons & destop appeared.
You MIGHT have caught the same thing........

EDIT:
And now anyway , since my PC is pretty OLD , first my taskbar shows up and after about 5 or 6 seconds all the items , icons , shortcuts and other stuff on my desktop. That's all I know.

Edit 2:
After PC starts up properly (If that happens...) use some kind of software and try to remove the virus/problem/error/crash .
It could be something very simple..............