"send to" desktop is gone

Hi, I just recently noticed when I want to send an icon or what ever by right clicking on something "send to" desktop option has dissapeared. Can this be fixed without a format?
rgds

xp sp2

 

Bimmer Guy--Believe this should do it
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/xp_sendtodesktop.vbs

 

Thanks Jim, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with that file.

 

Jim, I did as instructed from Dougs windows page, however sed to desktop still not appearing

 

Bimmer Guy--Regrets.
Did you reboot after running the .vbs file? And I am assuming that you still have the SendTo command when you right click, but that you are missing the Desktop (Create Shortcut) command in the dropdown menu.
I guess you remember that that link sent a shortcut for whatever file you were clicking on to the desktop. So you were not actually sending the file to the desktop. And you can accomplish the same thing by right clicking on the file|Create Shortcut, then dragging and dropping the shortcut to the Desktop.
But of course doing it from SendTo is easier.
Do you have file named desklink on your PC? And a file named Desktop.ini? You could try dragging and dropping a copy of each of them into your SendTo folder. (Start|Run|type sendto|OK.) For Desktop.ini, use the one in your I386 folder.
If that does not help, you could try a System Restore if you can remember when the problem started.
Or Start|Run|type sfc /scannow|OK. Have your Windows CD ready since you probably will be asked to insert. And stay by the PC since you may have to click Retry frequently. It takes about 20 minutes and it fixes corrupt or missing system files. It cannot hurt.
If you do all that, and it still does not work, try the Kelley/Doug .vbs thing again.

 

Jim, I will check back with you after I try your suggestions,
thank you
rgds

 

Hi Jim, unfortunately those fixes did'nt work. I'll use copy,paste when I want to put things on desktop.

Rgds,
Happy New Year

 

Bimmer Guy--Sorry I could not have been of more help, but at least you have a workaround.
Perhaps someone else will still chime in.

 

don't know if this helps but the orig file on my system is:

Desktop (create shortcut).Desklink

if u do a system wide search and include system/hidden files/folders, it'll probably show up.

u could also probably just create an new profile and/or logon as ADMIN and copy it from that accounts 'sendto' options.

turn on view/show hidden files in explorer's view options and then do:

start/run SENDTO

and copy the critter to c:\ or such.

then re-log as u'r account and copy it to u'r SENDTO folder. might need to set permission here but they SHOULD inherit on the paste to u'r account's sendto folder.

note - i tested nothing here ... i have no idea if it'll even copy

other than that, i just rclick & drag what i want to the desktop and let it go .... then choose 'create shortcut' .... then again ... i don't have any shortcuts on my desktop

 

As Welshjim pointed out, the "Send to...Desktop" only puts a shortcut to the file on the desktop, not the file itself.

When you copy and paste the file, you are copying the actual file to the desktop. Depending on the files you're copying, that desktop folder could get quite large and if harddrive space is at a premium (unlikely with modern drive sizes but you never know), space is wasted by duplicating files.

Also, don't forget that if you delete the original after copying it to the desktop, if or when you ever start on a desktop cleanup, you'll be deleting the file itself, not just a shortcut.

 

Correct. See my earlier post

where I mentioned how to put only the shortcut--not a copy of the file-- on the Desktop.

 

Yes, I saw that. I was just adding some clarification. I apologize if I stepped on your toes.

 

Miz--Never a need to apologize to me.
It was a good point to bring up.