Desktop icons disappear

I must have done something else. My desktop icons disappear, and I can click the desktop and they come back. What have I done and what can I do to put a stop to it.

 

I don't know if this will help. Start\in the search box, type Desktop icon settings.

 

You may be hiding desktop icons a setting available for those who prefer a pretty picture unobstructed picture. In any case right click desktop>view>check show desktop icons.

 

Show desktop icons is checked on, even wnen the icons are off. This may happen when I do a Copy and Paste from my Windows XP to the Windows 7. I do not think this only happens when I do this, and it does not happen each time I do this. I get a notice "Windows Explorer has Stopped working" and the red line goes across. Then Windows Explorer starts. Then the icons Disappear and come back on. I do not know if any of this has anything to do with any of this. I am not sure I will ever learn Windows 7.

 

Hi wahlroot,
Sorry it wasn't the simple fix.

Do as Pete suggests. This is not an icon problem. This is an explorer shell [explorer.exe] crash. Causes for such are and can be most anything in on or around your PC. You need to narrow down the root. I don't even know why I am about to post the rest of the information below because the most common and frequent problem and fix is as Pete suggests and "ShellExView" elimination will find the "culprit and cure ". I guess I just need to feel that a post should have more references, even if those references are not needed. So;

>Do as Pete suggests. Different site and directions, may be a wee bit easier to understand recipe, theory and method:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

>Make sure your apps and devices are updated and compatible.
>Disable anything that is loaded at startup or runs in background that is not needed.
>Make sure temps are cleaned and emptied often. "Copy n Paste" may need plenty of free resources, depending on size:
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/files/file/187-tfc-temp-file-cleaner-by-oldtimer/ <-Read carefully and understand what is getting cleaned.
>Take your quoted error to google.
>Check out your event "administrator tools ">event viewer for frequent and repeated problems.
>Realize that explorer may crash from time. Ideally, not suppose to happen. Reality, but does!

--------------------------
Google says this about windows 7 explorer crashes:
google hits for windows 7 and explorer crashes

past post from our own archives explaining how to use ShellExView or other members experiences with such

 

I ran ShellExView and found 7 non Microsoft Shells. I will disable them and enable them one at a time. I may have to do this several times because the problem does not seem to happen regurlarly. Many Startups and Services are Disabled in Msconfig and Services. Also I have a Bat file that comes on at each Bootup to clean out Temps. I may be missing some, so I will keep at it.

 

I have not had the problem, so I did not Disable any Shells. I will keep doing what might have caused the problem. Then start from there.

 

This afternoon the Icons started to disappear. I had to left Click on the Desktop to make them reappear. I disabled the non Microsoft Shells then enabled 1 at a time. There was no change. Then I noticed that when I left Clicked then waited 10 seconds the Icons disappeared again. I closed everything and Rebooted and now they do not disappear. Now it seems that I have run into a wall.

 

Look for explorer or applications errors/crashes in your administrator tools>event viewer. Quote details here.

 

Name Type No. of Events
Hardware Events Administrative 0
Hewlett-Pcakard Administrative 2
Internet Explorer Administrative 0
Key Management Serv. Administrative 0
Media Center Administrative 0
Microsoft
Tweak-7 Service Administrative 16
Windows PowerShell Administrative 27
Windows Logs
Application Administrative 5314
Security Administrative 5701
Setup Operational 188
System Administrative 20397
Forwarded Events Operational 0
I do not know what any of this means.

 

I ran System Maintenance and Computer has settled down. I do not know why or if it will last. I will see.