Windows has messed up my desktop

I was messing around in the notification area and all of sudden my desktop has changed, every app I've opened takes full screen, and won't restore down, they will minimize. All the desktop icons are hidden, there's something similar to the start menu on the left side of the desktop where I can click and get my icons, they're large, in the middle of the desktop.

What's going on?

This option takes your PC back to an earlier point in time, called a system restore point. Restore points are generated when you install a new app, driver, or Windows update, and when you create a restore point manually. Restoring won’t affect your personal files, but it will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was made.

• Select the Start button, type control panel andthen choose it from the list of results.
• Search Control Panel for Recovery.
• Select Recovery > Open System Restore > Next.
• Choose the restore point related to the problematic app, driver, or update, and then select Next > Finish.

Note
If you’re not seeing any restore points, it might be because system protection isn’t turned on. To check, go to the Control Panel, search for Recovery, and then select Recovery > Configure System Restore > Configure and make sure Turn on system protection is selected.

Thanks, I'll try that, but why did it happen?

The last restore point was 12/27, update was 12/20, I'll choose 12/27 if that does'n work I'll try 12/20

It could be malware infection or it could also be cause by corrupted Windows system files.



To open an elevated Command Prompt window In Windows 10 type cmd.exe into Start Menu, right-click on Cmd.exe, and open it as an administrator.

Execute below commands from Command Prompt one at time.

Code:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

DISM use for repairing Windows component store corruption.

Code:

Sfc  /Scannow

The Sfc command will repair corrupted or modified system files.




Malwarebytes' scanner
If this program is already installed: Skip the installation and run only the scan!
Download and install: Please download Malwarebytes' scanner to your desktop.

• Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-3.x.x.xxxx and follow the prompts to install the program.
• Click Finish.
• On the Dashboard, click the 'Check for Updates' button.
• After the update completes, click the 'Scan Now' button.
• A Threat Scan will begin. Please allow it to progress through the scanning process.
• When the scan is complete, if there have been detections, click Quarantines Selected button to allow the program to clean what was detected.
• In most cases, a restart will be required.
• Wait for the prompt to restart the computer to appear, then click on Yes.

How to get logs: (Export log to save as txt)

• After the restart once you are back at your desktop, open Malwarebytes once more.
• Click on the Reports tab > Scan Report. (if you have done more than one scan in the past, select the most recent that shows the Date and time of the scan just performed. Press View Report button.
• Click 'Export'.
• Click 'Text file (*.txt)'
• In the Save File dialog box which appears, click on Desktop.
• In the File name: box type a name for your scan log.
• A message box named 'File Saved' should appear stating "Your file has been successfully exported".
• Click Ok
• Find the log on your Desktop and Attach that saved log to your next reply.

(Copy to clipboard for pasting into forum replies or tickets)

Hey rboppy,
Could be you've turned on Table Mode - Turn On or Off Tablet Mode in Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

Thanks Eagle51, I'm sure that's what happened, didn't know anything about Tablet Mode. I was trying to get rid of some of the apps from the Notification area on that computer. My main computer, has only 6 apps when Expanded, the other one has ~12 or 16 and I never use um. I don't remember how I got rid of them on this computer.

Thanks Bree, I looked all over for that!