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Windows 7 Desktop Icons


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#1
makinu1der2

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Hello all,

I have a weird problem that I am trying to resolve but running out of options. Started my computer today and I have no desktop icons. I can still browse to the location using explorer and they are there and functional. Didn't make any changes to the system prior to the problem happening. I have System Restore turned off as this is just a test system. Havn't installed any themes just using the ones included in Windows 7.

Whenever I try and create a new desktop icon it doesn't appear but it appears in explorer. Any ideas?
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#2
usasma

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Try these fixes:
http://www.howtogeek...-windows-vista/
http://www.whizblaze.com/vista/icons/
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#3
ADNoland

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I have the same problem when I started my computer just now. Also if I copy something new to the desktop, it doesn't show up. I tried the fixes there, but they didn't work for me, maybe I did something wrong.
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#4
makinu1der2

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Hello thanks for the response....had already tried the first option and they are already checked tried removing and then reapply...nothing
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#5
makinu1der2

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Got the issue resolved. After reapplying the changes several times to show desktop items restarting the system the icons are back.

Right-click desktop > View > unchecked show desktop items > restart the system and then check Show desktop items

Icons are back don't know why I had to do it several times but worked for me.
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#6
ADNoland

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I'll give that a try when I get back home tonight.
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#7
ADNoland

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I tried again, still no luck. I tried method 2 here:http://www.whizblaze.com/vista/icons/ and when I restarted it froze the computer when the windows logo showed. I don't remember what it did the first time I tried.

I also tried a system restore, that did nothing.
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#8
wannabe1

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Hello ADNoland...

Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then choose Task Manager. Under the "Processes" tab, see if explorer.exe is running...if it is, select it and click on the "End Process" button.

Then click "File" on the Task Manager toolbar and choose "New Task (Run...)"...type explorer.exe in the Open field and click "Ok".

Do your icons come back...even briefly?

wannabe1
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#9
ADNoland

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Nope, not at all, screen flashed briefly just before the taskbar reloaded but no icons showed up on the desktop.
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#10
ADNoland

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oh, and I tried this since I found it while googling, it wasn't checked, but it still had no effect :)

whoa! but I just sorted them, just to try it... and they magically reappeared! I'll reboot and see what happens. :)

*Back, well, they're still there. I don't know why that fixed it, can't believe it was that simple, but it adds that one more thing to try if someone else has the issue.

Edited by ADNoland, 05 April 2009 - 10:57 AM.

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#11
marcus1942

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the problem i have in win 7 with the icons is that most of them are only 'black holes' with the text visable. I can see user,computer, network, recycle bin, bookmarks (my own folder), control panel. They all are clickable. They were there yesterday. I can get them to flash when refreshing.

Weird, huh?

marcus1942
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