I need help with windows 8. When I log in to the computer it only has 2 icons in the start menu and when I click desktop Most of the icons on my desktop are gone along with my wallpaper. I also get a pop up that says "Unknown hard error" and after I click ok it starts switching between the start menu which doesn't show any icons and the desktop which also doesn't show any icons and the taskbar only show the battery life of my computer. I can't do anything when it does this.

Please answer these questions in order to understand the issue better.

a) Do you remember making any changes on the computer prior to the issue?
b) Which antivirus program is installed on the computer?

You may face this issue due to conflict between third party applications or due to system file or hard disk corruption. Follow these methods and check if it helps:

Method 1:
Step 1:
Check if you face the similar issue in Safe Mode, if not you can try putting your computer in a Clean Boot state in normal mode and check if it helps:

Start your computer in safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

Step 2:
Follow the Microsoft KB article to perform clean boot on the computer. A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Disclaimer: After you have finished troubleshooting, follow these steps from section “How to reset the computer to start as usual after clean boot troubleshooting” to reset the computer to start as usual.

Method 2: If issue persists run the SFC scan. System File Checker tool (SFC.exe) scans for missing or corrupted system files and repairs them.

Use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833/en-us

Method 3: I would suggest you to run check disk on the computer and check if it helps:

a) Go to Start Page.
b) Type: CMD
c) The Apps page will come up.
d) Right click command prompt
e) Click “Run as Administrator” on the bottom pane.
f) If you get the User Account Control prompt. Click Yes to continue.
g) At the Command Prompt, type Chkdsk /r /f

Important: While performing scanning on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when scanning tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Method 4: Check if you face similar issue in new user account:

Create a user account

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8