All Desktop Icons gone, Can't add any icons but can see in Explorer

oldrock said:

I really screwed something up while messing with my screen resolution and font size settings losing all my icons on the Desktop.
Windows 10 Version 21H2 (OS Build 19044.2604)

I was trying to follow this tutorial and now I can't see anything at all.
Turn On or Off Align Desktop Icons to Grid in Windows 10
I created all the bat files files and unblocked them. No setting will change anything on the Desktop now.

I have the icons in my Desktop folder and can see them from Explorer and they work, but I can't see them on my Desktop. First they were scattered all over the screen and trying to fix that I have lost it all. The tutorial says something about changing something in the registry and not getting them back and I fear that has happened.

I have been all over trying to resolve this but I think the registry is not letting me due to something I did inadvertently. I am stuck and could use some help. Thanks

RIGHT click your desktop and choose: View

Make sure you have the options set like this. Especially the one that says: "Show Desktop Icons"

oldrock said:

I have already tried that with no success. It has no affect. thanks

Go to taskbar search and type: regedit.exe ...and hit Enter.
You can navigate through the registry, just like you would in File Explorer.
Make sure your registry is set like this... then reboot computer.





Make sure your screen resolution is set to "recommended".
Make sure the scaling is set to 100%.


Settings > System > Display...
Your Display Resolution will probably be different... just make sure it's set on "recommended".

@oldrock


Make sure this is selected...

Ghot, in your first picture, the first entry on my computer, if I had that listed there, would say:
End All Non-Responsive Tasks

Just what my entry would say. =P

pepanee said:

Ghot, in your first picture, the first entry on my computer, if I had that listed there, would say:
End All Non-Responsive Tasks

Just what my entry would say. =P

Add Kill All Not Responding Tasks Context Menu in Windows 10

oldrock said:

already set

Well you can always do an In-Place upgrade. That will fix any Windows problems...
It's probably overkill... but I can't think of anything else.

Generally, we use backup software and THEN we start tweaking things. That way... if something breaks, we can just restore from a backup.

An In-Place Upgrade "compares" what is installed on the computer, with the Windows ISO image.
Then, it overwrites corrupted Windows files, with clean copies from the ISO image.
This is how it "repairs" Windows while allowing you to keep your programs and personal files.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade <---- Official tutorial



Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect (free)
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Go here and get the Media Creation Tool and save it to your desktop.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

RUN the Media Creation Tool and use it to: Create an ISO image... save IT to your desktop.
This will be the latest version of the ISO image.
The ISO must be created in the same language as you are using in Windows, to be able to keep your Programs and Files.




Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.


The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations.
Your drivers, programs and data will be intact.

There IS one other thing you might try...

Rebuild Icon Cache in Windows 10