Missing Icons on desktop

  • Thread starter Thread starter CGB
  • Start date Start date
C

CGB

All of a sudden (honest I wasn't messing around with things) about 80% of
the icons on my desktop disappeared. I can't find out why. Perhaps I could
re-make them but I don't know where they are. Some were just plain
shortcuts to programs but most were shortcuts to folders with multiple
startup shortcuts in them. I wouldn't know where to begin to try to
remember what all I had in them and on the desktop.
How do I proceed?

Thanks

Chet
 
Forgot to add that I tried to use "system restore" to go back to a point
that had been recorded about a day ago when things worked well and computer
said it couldn't restore to that point.

Windows XP Home edition
Zone Alarm firewall
Norton antivirus
Frequent scans with Spybot, Adaware, CWShredder all negative
All the above programs updated and used frequently

Thanks,

Chet
 
Your Desktop Icons Are Missing in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330170

When the Desktop Cleanup Wizard runs, it places unused shortcuts into a
folder on the desktop called Unused Desktop Shortcuts. However, if you want,
these shortcuts can be recovered from this folder.

Right-click a blank spot on the desktop, and then click Properties to open
the Display Properties dialog box.
Click the Desktop tab.
Click Customize desktop to open the Desktop Items dialog box.
Click to clear the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days check box.
Click OK twice to close the dialog boxes.
-----

A Description of the Desktop Cleanup Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293154

HOW TO: Use the Desktop Cleanup Wizard in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306542

HOW TO: Disable the Automatic Desktop Cleanup Feature in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320154

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Wesley,
Thanks for the reply but it didn't solve my problem. The Desktop Cleanup
Wizard has always been unchecked. Even if it had been the culprit, it
should have left a folder on my desktop labelled "unused desktop shortcuts"
and there was no such folder. (where would those items have been stored? I
can look for such a folder and see if there might be anything like that).

At any rate, multiple things just disappeared and it apparently the
automatic cleanup wizard. Any other thoughts?

Thanks

Chet
 
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