I have lost desktop icons and cannot right click

  • Thread starter Thread starter buffalo
  • Start date Start date
Could anyone please help me with this?

Thanks
Click to expand...

To regain the right click: Click Start> Control Panel (classic view)> Start
Menu and Taskbar Properties. On the "Start Menu" page, click the Customize
button for the style of start menu that you use. Another screen will
appear. Look for the option to "enable drag and drop." You want this item
to be checked/enabled. Click OK to get back to the desktop and try a right
click.

For desktop items, there are a few things to check:

Right click desktop and Select View. On the flyout menu check "Show Desktop
Items."

OR
Display Properties> Desktop> Customize and use these screens to select
which icons you would like on the desktop.

OR
If still no luck, check Display Properties> Desktop> Customize> Web and
remove check marks next to any web content listed. Tread carefully here.
Some malware likes to hijack your desktop by adding web content. If you
find "suspicious" items in this list or just want to make sure the system
is clean, check for malware.
 
Thank you, Sharon but when I click on taskbar and start menu icon in control
panel, nothing happens. I right clicked it and said 'open' - still nothing.

b
 
Thank you, Sharon but when I click on taskbar and start menu icon in control
panel, nothing happens. I right clicked it and said 'open' - still nothing.
Click to expand...

Is this PC a personal PC - stand alone or on a home small network? Or is it
a member of a domain? The reason I ask is that domain administrators
sometimes block control panel items and other abilities of regular users.
If on a domain, check with the domain administrator (or the IT department
at work) to see if this is the case. If you have a valid reason for needing
a feature re-instated, they are usually pretty agreeable.

If this is a personal PC -- you have missing desktop items, a lack of right
click and a broken control panel. The list is growing. Anything else not
working right on this system? It's beginning to sound like it may be
suffering from a malware intrusion.

Check the system as thoroughly as you can. Use up to date programs and up
to date "definitions" for each of them. Both antivirus and anti-spyware
programs should be used for this check. MVP Malke Routh has a nice page
that goes over the needed steps in more detail:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Another thing you might try: Create a new user account (must be logged on
as a member of the administrator group to create accounts). Log on to the
newly created account to see if the problem persists. The goal here is to
find out if the problem is limited to one user account or if it is a system
wide problem. If limited to one account, consider moving your data from the
damaged account over to the new account. Once all important data is moved,
delete the "broken" account.
 
Thanks yet again, Sharon F.

It is my small home network. I've tried various resident virus/malware
software.

Correction about Control Panel. It IS working if I click it from
taskmanager/files/new.....control panel. All of what I have tried from
withing c.p. seems to work, as well.

I will try your suggestion of creating a new user account and report back
here what occurs.

Thanks
 
Sharon,

As admin, I created a new user account and there is no difference.
Click to expand...

Then if no malware, either permissions are altered or files are damaged.
Did you follow through with Malke's suggestion on the elephantboy page?
Malware can be quite transparent these days and diligent checking may be
required to uncover a deeply rooted intrusion.

You still have System Restore (if restore points are available and not
damaged). Otherwise, check into a "repair" install. If a repair does not
fix, then you're left with a reinstall.

Michael Stevens MVP has some good pages that cover both repair and install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
 
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