At startup, all i see is the background but no icons, gadgets or start button after installing multiple Windows updates which included SP1 on windows 7 home premium.

Hi Fred,

Method 1:

Step 1:

a)       In normal mode, right click on the desktop > View and ensure that the following options are selected.

b)       Show desktop icons

c)       Show desktop gadgets

Step 2:

a)       press CTRL+ALT+DEL simultaneously

b)       Select task manager

c)       On the task manager window, click on file >new task.

d)       In the new task box, type in explorer.exe

e)       Click OK

Check to see if Explorer starts up

Method 2:  From safe mode\safe mode with networking, put the computer in clean boot and then check to see if the issue persists

Follow Step 1 in the link below,
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

If everything works fine after a clean boot, you can infer that some third party services are causing the problem.

Proceed with the remaining steps to pin-point out the third party service.
After you figure out the problem causing program, you may have to update or install a higher version of the program, if you seldom use that software you can consider uninstalling it.

Important: - Remember to put the computer back to normal startup follow step 7 in the link.