No Desktop Icons, Taskbar, Start, anything PLEASE HELP!!!!!

i have windows XP media center edition that came with my HP pavillion desktop

my problems started about a month ago when my preset desktop background
disappered and all i had was a blue screen. I tried changing it but when i
did the background option on was always "disabled". i also got an error
message about processing some paramers c576dc9 or something like that and i
would just click cancel a few times and all was well. Then a few weeks ago i
wanted to use the comp and all of the sudden i kept on receiving error
messages from windows data executionn prevention about my internet explorer
and as soon as i clicked off the message it woudl give me the option to send
an error report and i would say no and the cycle would begin again. Then my
blue background vanished and i was left with the active desktop recovery and
i would tell the comp to recover my desktop but nothing happened. A few days
ago, i logged on and got my original desktop picture back but i had no icons,
taskbar, start button etc. I pulled up task mananger and tried to run
explorer.exe in the new task bar but nothing happened. Depending on which
user i signed in as, i would get an error message about dr.mortem postmortem
debugger having to close so i would close. So in the end no matter what user
account i log in on i can only see the desktop picture and nothing else. I
have tried to start the computer i safe mode, safe mode in networking, and
last good configuration. I had minor sucess with the last good
configuration-- i got a taskbar with a start button but i could not use the
start button.

i think that some kind of spyware/adware/malware is what's affecting my comp
but i don't know how to scan/remove it seeing as how i can't do anything on
my comp.
I don't know if i need to do a system recovery or what that even is

i'm sorry for my long post but i wanted to explain the problem in detail
If anyone has any clue about what i need to do, please don't hesitate to reply

thank you so much

Since you can get Task Manager running, click File, New Task and enter
RSTRUI.EXE This will load System Restore. Restore back to a point before
the problem started.

If that doesn't help, it might be possible to use one of the free
online scans to look for malware. I don't remember which companies have
such scans, maybe McAfee or Trend Micro - you could Google for more.

Alternatively, buy an antivirus package that before you install it lets
you boot from its CD so you can run a scan without starting your own
Windows.

I'm suggesting these plans in case you have malware and it is
preventing you from recovering.

I tried doing this but received an error message saying windows could not
find "RSTRUI.EXE" should i try to do a system recovery by pressing F10 when i
boot up my computer and if so what did you mean restore back to a point
before the problem started--- can i choose how far back to "restore" my
computer and will a system restore cause me to lose all of my data on the
computer

[nakkeredknees]

A system restore is a system restore, I have had the same problem and am baffled. My restore will not work. As far as I know, YOU CAN NOT CHOOSE WHAT POINT TO RESTORE TO. If you do restore, I am afraid you will lose all the documents and programs you saved up to the point where you created a system restore point. Its annoying i know! :) hope this helps...

This is incorrect. If System Restore is working, you can restore to any
restore point on the calendar. You will NOT lose any documents, photos,
etc., but any programs installed since that restore point was made MAY be
lost. This all depends on how that particular installer works.

You are confusing Window System Restore found under "Start, All Programs,
Accessories, System Tools" (in XP) with a Restore/Recovery disc or procedure
that is supplied with many pre-build systems.

As Doug mentioned System Restore can have dozens (or more) restore point
depending on how much space you allocated.