Icons do not appear on the desktop: troubleshooting guide

The desktop is the main area that is involved when using a computer. Here, users can place folders, shortcuts, and program icons. Some services are also displayed on the desktop. For example, "My Computer" and "Trash." But what if the icons do not appear on the desktop? How to fix the situation?

Delete shortcuts

Let's start with the simplest option - this is a banal removal of previously placed folders and shortcuts on the desktop. This often happens when using a PC by several people.

To verify this scenario, the user will need:

1. Click RMB on any free space on your desktop.
2. Select the line "Create".
3. Create a shortcut or folder.

If the received object is located on the computer, it's okay. Icons do not appear on the desktop due to someone deleting them.

You can correct the situation in different ways:

• re-create shortcuts and folders;
• Recover them from the recycle bin.

In the second case, you will have to open the "Recycle Bin", and then select the necessary objects and click on the "Restore" button.

Viruses

The second option, in which the icons do not appear on the desktop, is a virus infection. Ideally, the user needs to conduct a full computer diagnostics using different antiviruses. After that, the operating system must be treated, and documents not succumbed to the procedure should be deleted.

Next, the following steps are required:

1. Call up the Task Manager. For example, using the hot keys. In Windows, this is Ctrl, Alt, Del.
2. Switch to the File tab.
3. Click on the "New task" option.
4. In the line that appears, type explorer.exe.
5. Press the control under the name "Enter" on the keyboard or click on the inscription "OK" on the screen.

After the actions done, the user will restore the shortcuts. It did not help? Then you have to act differently.

Lack on PC

The thing is that viruses can sometimes damage or completely delete files on a computer. This is a fairly common occurrence.

If the suggestions for restoring the desktop suggested above did not help, most likely the explorer.exe document is missing on the PC.

What to do? In this case, it is recommended:

1. Find a user with a similar system or search the Web for a trusted data source.
2. Download the explorer.exe document on your computer.
3. Download the document to the Windows system folder.
4. Run it following the instructions above.

If everything is done correctly, the computer will be restored to working condition. Fast, easy and very convenient.

Important: it is recommended not to download explorer.exe on the web. So you can infect your PC with serious viruses.

The registry and its meanings

Why aren't the desktop icons displayed? Maybe the system registry is to blame. It is necessary to make adjustments to its values.

In order to cope with the task, you need:

1. Press Win + R.
2. In the line that appears, type regedit.
3. Confirm the operation.
4. Take a look at the path indicated in paragraph a.
5. Set Shell to "explorer.ee" (in English).
6. In the Userinit block, indicate the inscription prescribed in paragraph b.
7. Take a trip to the section - see point c below.
8. Delete subitems that have the word explorer in their names. There must be 2 documents.

Here are the sections and addresses that you need to go to:

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon.
2. C: \ Windows \ system32 \ userinit.exe.
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Image File Execution Options.

Now everything should work. It remains only to send the computer to reboot. We figured out what to do if the Windows 7 desktop icons and more are not displayed.

Disable shortcuts

But that is not all. Starting with Windows XP, users have opened new add-ons for the "desktop". With their help, users can hide and resize labels. System errors can lead to failure of the corresponding parameters.

The user will need to act this way to correct the situation:

1. Click RMB on the desktop.
2. Open the menu item "View". An additional list will appear on the screen.
3. Put a check mark next to the item "Display icons ...". It is advisable to check the box next to "Display gadgets ...".

If everything is done correctly, shortcuts will appear. As practice shows, the studied problem is a minimum of trouble. Especially if you follow the suggested directions.

Service Shortcuts

Sometimes users complain that they don’t see the icons on the desktop “My Computer” and “Trash”. Most likely, the reasons lie in the broken system settings.

The guide for restoring system service shortcuts is as follows:

1. Click RMB on the desktop.
2. Select the "Personalization" option.
3. Go to the "Customize shortcuts ..." hyperlink. It is located in the upper left corner.
4. Check off the services whose shortcuts you want to see on the desktop.
5. Click on "OK."