Resolved Windows icons disappear from desktop.

Error randomly appears at start up or during a computer session. All other third party programs and Windows Explorer icon are not affected. Error has appeared more often over the last few days. No additional programs have been introduced before or after error surfaced.

 

There are no messages other than five Microsoft programs icon are no longer shown current and require to be posted back on the Desktop.

Control Panel - Help & Support - Win Updates - Computer - Solitaire icons.

 

Are you referring to when you click on the Orb. The right side of the Start Menu?

 

Happening, is Desktop Icons shows current programs with the exception of the mentioned MS Icons. This happens periodically and requires these Icons to be re-entered on the Desktop screen.

 

Your Desktop Cleanup Wizard may be enabled. If this is Windows 7 Home premium you may not be able the access Local Group Policy Editor(gpedit.msc). You could try by right clicking on Command Prompt run as administrator and typing ion gpedit.msc then press enter. If you can access it navigate User Configuration>Adminstrative Templates>Desktop and Enable Remove the Desktop Cleanup Wizard.

 

lj50 thank you for valuable information. My copy installed is Windows 7 Home Premium. I carried out your suggestion and result was "gpedit.msc is not recognised as an internal or external command ". I gather it mean that I am unable to access "gpedit" Local Group Policy.

 

That's correct. It's available in Win 7 enterprise pro and ultimate.

 

Is there no apparent solution?

 

To disable the "Unused Desktop Icon" task, follow these steps: 1.Click Start button, type regedit in the Search programs and files box, and then press ENTER.
UAC If you are prompted for an administrator password, type the password. If you are prompted for confirmation, provide confirmation.

2.Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ScheduledDiagnostics\

3.On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4.Type IsUnusedDesktopIconsTSEnabled, and then press ENTER.
5.Right-click IsUnusedDesktopIconsTSEnabled, and then click Modify.
6.In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
7.Exit Registry Editor.

 

If you're uncomfortable working in the registry I've found what may be the link for the Unused Desktop Icon fixit tool. I'll leave the manual procedure posted. Scroll up to the Unused Desktop Icon section download button. Under Fix It For Me click on Download. MS Fixit tool

 

lj50 thanks for your help. I entered the instructions into the Registry and I will await results as to whether the mentioned Icons again fail to show on the Desktop. With regards to your second instructions which was carried out first. Results showed "Fixit does not apply to your installed OS ".

 

You may have to put the missing icon back on the desktop manually by going to Start\All Programs\Games the right clicking on Solitaire and choosing Send to Desktop(create shortcut). Just using Solitaire as an example. You can use any program you want to test the registry fix. Did you try opening solitaire then right clicking it's icon in the taskbar then clicking on Pin this program to the taskbar? I pin Solitaire to the Start Menu as I very few icons on the desktop. I also use the registry to add maintenance apps(example Disk Clean Up, Defragment) and other item such as Copy To and Move To on to the Context Menu.

 

Today all mentioned Desktop Icons appear and function correctly on clicking them. As mentioned previously, I will have to wait and see if these Icons disappear from the Desktop screen marking if the error has been rectified or not. Thanks again.

 

The Desktop Icons mentioned are still showing periodically.

 

As my Windows Desktop Icons are again disappearing during a computer session, I tried your suggestion. Icon Blocker appears to be installed but no trace can be found on the computer. In the Read Me, it shows only suitable for Windows 95 and NT or higher, with no reference to Windows 7. Is the software working silently?