my Desktop is somehow locked, can't put anything on it.

[harpo_]

Hi,

I have a PC with XP SP2 pro , but it's some 'customized' installation.

The desktop is somehow locked - it's empty, and I can't put any
shortcut or file on the screen. Also I can't right click on the
desktop(no context menu appears).

I have admin rights and can put anything in
C:\Documents and Settings\<USERNAME>\Desktop\ or in
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
folders - but nothing is visible on the screen.
If I right click some file and select Send to / Desktop, a new
shortcut appears in
C:\Documents and Settings\<USERNAME>\Desktop\ , but not on the screen.

Should be some registry trick, but I don't know where to look for.
Please suggest something as this is ultra annoying.

Thanks

 

[C J.]

Hi,

I have a PC with XP SP2 pro , but it's some 'customized' installation.

The desktop is somehow locked - it's empty, and I can't put any
shortcut or file on the screen. Also I can't right click on the
desktop(no context menu appears).

I have admin rights and can put anything in
C:\Documents and Settings\<USERNAME>\Desktop\ or in
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
folders - but nothing is visible on the screen.
If I right click some file and select Send to / Desktop, a new
shortcut appears in
C:\Documents and Settings\<USERNAME>\Desktop\ , but not on the screen.

Should be some registry trick, but I don't know where to look for.
Please suggest something as this is ultra annoying.

Thanks

Hi, try this...

Right Click on your desktop, and select "Arrange Icons By" Click on "show
desktop icons" down near the bottom of submenu.

 

[harpo_]

thanks but can't do this.
As I noted in my first post, I can't right click on desktop - when I
do so nothing happens, there is no context menu.

I think I exhausted all the GUI options like Control Panel / Display,
gpedit.msc etc.
Looks like some nasty registry trick.

 

[Terry R.]

On 6/22/2007 1:04 PM On a whim, (e-mail address removed) pounded out on the
keyboard

Hi,

I have a PC with XP SP2 pro , but it's some 'customized' installation.

The desktop is somehow locked - it's empty, and I can't put any
shortcut or file on the screen. Also I can't right click on the
desktop(no context menu appears).

I have admin rights and can put anything in
C:\Documents and Settings\<USERNAME>\Desktop\ or in
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop\
folders - but nothing is visible on the screen.
If I right click some file and select Send to / Desktop, a new
shortcut appears in
C:\Documents and Settings\<USERNAME>\Desktop\ , but not on the screen.

Should be some registry trick, but I don't know where to look for.
Please suggest something as this is ultra annoying.

Thanks

Hi Harpo,

Since you can't right click on the Desktop, open regedit and navigate to
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Currentversion\policies\explorer
and check for NoDesktop. If it's there and the value is 1, change it to
0. You may have to restart.


--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[harpo_]

Thanks a lot Terry!

I'm not on the PC in question now, but I created this on the current
PC with a value of 1 for NoDesktop, rebooted, and have exactly the
same sympthoms - so this should be it!
Thank you!

 

[Terry R.]

On 6/22/2007 3:07 PM On a whim, (e-mail address removed) pounded out on the
keyboard

Thanks a lot Terry!

I'm not on the PC in question now, but I created this on the current
PC with a value of 1 for NoDesktop, rebooted, and have exactly the
same sympthoms - so this should be it!
Thank you!

You're welcome!

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

 

[Kelly]

In addition, if you haven't done so:

Control Panel/Display/Desktop/Customize Desktop/Web
Remove anything suspicious listed.

Added tip:

Restore All Display Tabs and Settings (Line 285 right hand side)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm