No desktop icons at all!

[Guest msliny@optonline.net]

I'm trying to help a friend here. When her computer starts up, the

desktop background shows, the taskbar shows and the quick launch bar

shows. However, NO icons appear on the desktop at all (not even My

Computer or Recycle Bin). There are no viruses or spyware present. I

am not a novice, but I cannot figure this one out. This a Dell

Dimension 3000, running WinXP Pro, SP3. The warranty has expired. I'm

sure it must be a registry entry, but I am NOT sure which one(s).

This is not a new problem, though I'm not sure when it began. She

insists it was always this way. I've tried to set up a new folder and/

or shortcut and it goest though the whole process, yet no icon shows

up. I do not get any error messages. The only way to open programs

(that are not on the taskbar or quick launch) is with the start

button. I have her computer with me now, so I've been trying all the

obvious fixes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Guest Malke]

Re: No desktop icons at all!

 

msliny@optonline.net wrote:

> I'm trying to help a friend here. When her computer starts up, the

> desktop background shows, the taskbar shows and the quick launch bar

> shows. However, NO icons appear on the desktop at all (not even My

> Computer or Recycle Bin). There are no viruses or spyware present. I

> am not a novice, but I cannot figure this one out. This a Dell

> Dimension 3000, running WinXP Pro, SP3. The warranty has expired. I'm

> sure it must be a registry entry, but I am NOT sure which one(s).

> This is not a new problem, though I'm not sure when it began. She

> insists it was always this way. I've tried to set up a new folder and/

> or shortcut and it goest though the whole process, yet no icon shows

> up. I do not get any error messages. The only way to open programs

> (that are not on the taskbar or quick launch) is with the start

> button. I have her computer with me now, so I've been trying all the

> obvious fixes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

I don't know what you call "the obvious fixes" (telling us what you'd

actually done would have been more helpful so as to forestall repetitive

advice), but how about right-clicking on an empty area of the Desktop and

under the Arrange Icons menu choose "Show Desktop Icons.." (I'm

paraphrasing since I don't have a Windows box on right now).

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest msliny@optonline.net]

Re: No desktop icons at all!

 

On Oct 17, 9:47 am, Malke <ma...@invalid.invalid> wrote:

> msl...@optonline.net wrote:

> > I'm trying to help a friend here.  When her computer starts up, the

> > desktop background shows, the taskbar shows and the quick launch bar

> > shows.   However, NO icons appear on the desktop at all (not even My

> > Computer or Recycle Bin).  There are no viruses or spyware present.  I

> > am not a novice, but I cannot figure this one out. This a Dell

> > Dimension 3000, running WinXP Pro, SP3.  The warranty has expired. I'm

> > sure it must be a registry entry, but I am NOT sure which one(s).

> > This is not a new problem, though I'm not sure when it began.  She

> > insists it was always this way.  I've tried to set up a new folder and/

> > or shortcut and it goest though the whole process, yet no icon shows

> > up.   I do not get any error messages.  The only way to open programs

> > (that are not on the taskbar or quick launch) is with the start

> > button.  I have her computer with me now, so I've been trying all the

> > obvious fixes.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

>

> I don't know what you call "the obvious fixes" (telling us what you'd

> actually done would have been more helpful so as to forestall repetitive

> advice), but how about right-clicking on an empty area of the Desktop and

> under the Arrange Icons menu choose "Show Desktop Icons.." (I'm

> paraphrasing since I don't have a Windows box on right now).

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ -http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

I apologize. I had tried what I thought were the obvious fixes (right

clicking on the desktop and refreshing, adding new folders, adding new

shortcuts, etc). I never tried "arrange icons by"... since there were

no icons! It worked! Thank you very much.

[Guest Malke]

Re: No desktop icons at all!

 

msliny@optonline.net wrote:

> I apologize. I had tried what I thought were the obvious fixes (right

> clicking on the desktop and refreshing, adding new folders, adding new

> shortcuts, etc). I never tried "arrange icons by"... since there were

> no icons! It worked! Thank you very much.

 

Glad that sorted it for you. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ