help with blank desktop

[Gamezertruth]

A few days before my desktop has completely disappeared. I have been trying to fix the cause of the disappearance of the desktop, but all the solutions do not work. So I need help. For more about the problem from here my topic https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?/topic/162143-black-and-blank-desktop/

[jraju]

Hi, Gamez
                    Did you check the desktop folder in the explorer. Is this folder contain something that has not been displayed in your desktop?
                                 

[Gamezertruth]

Hi, Gamez
                    Did you check the desktop folder in the explorer. Is this folder contain something that has not been displayed in your desktop?
                                 

hi

yes i have checked this explorer in task-manger as in this page http://www.geekworldnews.org/windows-7-black-screen.html and yeah all my desktop icons and my folder and file isn’t show up ! 

[Boggin]

On occasions when I've run NPE, it has snagged a key and because I trust NPE I've let it do its thing, but you could create a restore point and then let it do it's thing.

Have you got a black screen or is it just that all of your icons are missing as I was wondering why you had followed the steps for a black screen in the link you had posted.

If it's a black screen, see what you get when you boot up into Safe Mode with Networking and if it's missing icons, right click on the desktop - hover over View and ensure the box is checked for Show desktop icons.

Should your icon cache need rebuilding you can run this Batch file or follow the manual steps - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

[Gamezertruth]

On occasions when I've run NPE, it has snagged a key and because I trust NPE I've let it do its thing, but you could create a restore point and then let it do it's thing.

yeah NPE is a good malware scanner to find a badly Registry settings or Registry Change But there is a problem where NPE has a lot of false positives detection

Have you got a black screen or is it just that all of your icons are missing as I was wondering why you had followed the steps for a black screen in the link you had posted.

it just all of my desktop icons are missing/nothing shown-up on my desktop and i have following this steps Because I've done wrong search words of my problem !  lol  anyway i have this cmd in this Article on the link to check for harddrive error and bad sector     and there is no black screen !

If it's a black screen, see what you get when you boot up into Safe Mode with Networking and if it's missing icons, right click on the desktop - hover over View and ensure the box is checked for Show desktop icons.

Should your icon cache need rebuilding you can run this Batch file or follow the manual steps - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

that isn’t a black screen but it was somethings as an missing icons i have do checkmarks at this registry key with NPE and unable to remove this registry path ! but right click on my desktop and doing "hover over View and ensure the box is checked for Show desktop icons" it Bring everything to my desktop as it was before ! and i have "unchecked for Show desktop icons" once again and Because I want to know what is the cause of the problem! I want a manual fix for this problem if that Possible!

[Boggin]

I don't know what would have caused the box to become unchecked - perhaps Event Viewer may have something, but run the icon cache rebuild batch file as an added measure and hopefully it won't happen again.

Reliability history may also have something ?

The fact that NPE was unable to remove that entry could have been a false positive, but I was unable to find a similar HK_USER key in my Win 7 x64 registry.

[jraju]

Hi,
                      pl check this
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/unhide/dl/6/

[Gamezertruth]

i have checked both Event Viewer and Reliability history and all there is an old error i guess and have run this batch file but unable to show the desktop icons !

so Boggin we need to make a way to manual remover this registry key to see if this will Bring the desktop icons back!

[Gamezertruth]

Hi,
                      pl check this
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/unhide/dl/6/

hi jraju

i have to run this tool now ;  )

[Gamezertruth]

jraju this tool unable to fix the problem too!

[jraju]

Hi, Normally only recycle bin is shown as desktop folder and all other things are saved by you to desktop. Do you stil say that your desktop contains something and it is not shown up in that folder as well as desktop.  See this tutorial and download for your problem. Some third party programs would have turned off
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/919-desktop-icons-add-remove.html

[Gamezertruth]

Hi, Normally only recycle bin is shown as desktop folder and all other things are saved by you to desktop.

yeah that will be only on a new installation of window system !

Do you stil say that your desktop contains something and it is not shown up in that folder as well as desktop.  See this tutorial and download for your problem. Some third party programs would have turned off
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/919-desktop-icons-add-remove.html

yup i have my Personal files and my program on my desktop ! yeah i can jump to my Personal files from other Location but all other thing like programs icons is not there as should ! and i have right-click on my desktop > Personalize > Change desktop icons > restore default and nothings happen so for ! so a may manual remover this registry key will solve this ;  )

[Boggin]

In that icon cache rebuild article there was a further step to try should the batch file not do it - did you also try that ?

As a long shot, do the desktop icons return when you boot up into Safe Mode with Networking ?

[Gamezertruth]

In that icon cache rebuild article there was a further step to try should the batch file not do it - did you also try that ?

i have try the "option one" for the moment and i don’t yet try "option two" so souled i go to "option two" ?

As a long shot, do the desktop icons return when you boot up into Safe Mode with Networking ?

Unfortunately no , desktop icons is still won’t show up or return even in Safe Mode with Networking option !

[Boggin]

I suppose you will have already tried your restore points ?

Had you downloaded/installed anything immediately before they vanished ?

Give the free ESET Online Scanner a run http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/

Click on Advanced and check all of the boxes except the proxy one and disable your AV immediately before you hit the Scan button.

There's also a box to check for its auto uninstall when done.

[Gamezertruth]

I suppose you will have already tried your restore points ?

Unfortunately no, i have to delete all of my restore points Because of that I have a low disk space !

Had you downloaded/installed anything immediately before they vanished ?

yeah that’s correct i was looking for a desktop software's such WINSTEP NEXUS ULTIMATE etc and Adware cleaner have find some of WINSTEP NEXUS ULTIMATE as a Pups so i have to delete this entry and then i have did install the latest windows updates and i have run hijackthis tool to kill all startup item and i do restart the system and log in again, but there is no desktop? All I have is a blank desktop and i quote this from my other topic link in my first post : )

! I have downloaded this anti-virus and install it on my system, there are also pending Microsoft updates for installation! I did install the latest updates and i have run hijackthis tool to kill all startup item and i do restart the system and log in again, but there is no desktop? All I have is a blank desktop any idea ?

Give the free ESET Online Scanner a run http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/

Click on Advanced and check all of the boxes except the proxy one and disable your AV immediately before you hit the Scan button.

There's also a box to check for its auto uninstall when done.

i already run ESET Online Scanner and it find a Quarantine files only that was Quarantine by Adware cleaner and combofix !

[Boggin]

It's a pity about the restore points as they could have pulled you out of the mire and it would be prudent to create one prior to installing anything new.

I create regular system images onto an external HDD which have pulled me out of the mire on more than one occasion.

Have you considered a repair install ?

Can't remember what OS you are running but executing Disk Cleanup as an admin may free up some GBs, but you should have a look at what you have installed and see if you can offload anything - it's either that or get yourself a larger HDD or start saving some of your personal stuff to an external HDD.

I think the OS HDD requires a min of 15% free space to run a defrag.

[Gamezertruth]

It's a pity about the restore points as they could have pulled you out of the mire and it would be prudent to create one prior to installing anything new.

I create regular system images onto an external HDD which have pulled me out of the mire on more than one occasion.

Thanks for the advice. I will do so next time 

Have you considered a repair install ?

no not yet 

Can't remember what OS you are running but executing Disk Cleanup as an admin may free up some GBs, but you should have a look at what you have installed and see if you can offload anything - it's either that or get yourself a larger HDD or start saving some of your personal stuff to an external HDD.

I think the OS HDD requires a min of 15% free space to run a defrag.

windows 7 ultimate 32-bit and right now I’m doing a desks free up space and is there any fasted defragging software ? and here a list of my last installed programs :

1- DisplayFusion
2- ObjectDock
3-ClamWin Antivirus

and here my Adwcleaner log and to buy an external HDD but price is expensive ! so they are a Thief's! lol

# AdwCleaner v4.105 - Report created 10/12/2014 at 09:43:39
# Updated 08/12/2014 by Xplode
# Database : 2014-12-08.2 [Live]
# Operating System : Windows 7 Ultimate Service Pack 1 (32 bits)
# Username :
# Running from : C:\Users\\Desktop\Tweaking.com - Windows Repair\adwcleaner_4.105.exe
# Option : Clean

***** [ Services ] *****


***** [ Files / Folders ] *****

Folder Deleted : C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Winstep
Folder Deleted : C:\Program Files\hotspot shield
Folder Deleted : C:\Program Files\Winstep
Folder Deleted : C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Temp\hotspot shield
Folder Deleted : C:\Users\\AppData\LocalLow\baidu
Folder Deleted : C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\hotspot shield
Folder Deleted : C:\Users\Public\Documents\Winstep

***** [ Scheduled Tasks ] *****


***** [ Shortcuts ] *****


***** [ Registry ] *****

Key Deleted : HKCU\Software\anchorfree
Key Deleted : HKCU\Software\YTDownloader
Key Deleted : HKCU\Software\AppDataLow\Software\SpeeditUp
Key Deleted : HKLM\SOFTWARE\YTDownloader

***** [ Browsers ] *****

-\\ Internet Explorer v11.0.9600.17496


-\\ Mozilla Firefox v34.0 (x86 en-US)


-\\ Google Chrome v39.0.2171.71


-\\ Comodo Dragon v


*************************

AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [2842 octets] - [18/10/2014 11:13:53]
AdwCleaner[R10].txt - [3247 octets] - [14/11/2014 19:30:40]
AdwCleaner[R11].txt - [2667 octets] - [17/11/2014 08:14:35]
AdwCleaner[R12].txt - [2654 octets] - [20/11/2014 16:50:34]
AdwCleaner[R13].txt - [2949 octets] - [29/11/2014 00:14:21]
AdwCleaner[R14].txt - [2727 octets] - [02/12/2014 19:26:09]
AdwCleaner[R15].txt - [2904 octets] - [10/12/2014 09:39:25]
AdwCleaner[R1].txt - [1453 octets] - [23/10/2014 09:36:03]
AdwCleaner[R2].txt - [2746 octets] - [29/10/2014 00:32:49]
AdwCleaner[R3].txt - [26662 octets] - [31/10/2014 18:36:35]
AdwCleaner[R4].txt - [6568 octets] - [31/10/2014 23:29:37]
AdwCleaner[R5].txt - [2395 octets] - [03/11/2014 01:46:59]
AdwCleaner[R6].txt - [2129 octets] - [03/11/2014 21:23:48]
AdwCleaner[R7].txt - [4046 octets] - [09/11/2014 13:44:09]
AdwCleaner[R8].txt - [13018 octets] - [10/11/2014 17:55:42]
AdwCleaner[R9].txt - [3541 octets] - [13/11/2014 14:36:04]
AdwCleaner[S0].txt - [3672 octets] - [18/10/2014 11:19:27]
AdwCleaner[S10].txt - [2305 octets] - [10/12/2014 09:43:39]
AdwCleaner[S1].txt - [1537 octets] - [23/10/2014 09:40:48]
AdwCleaner[S2].txt - [3044 octets] - [29/10/2014 00:38:41]
AdwCleaner[S3].txt - [7301 octets] - [31/10/2014 23:37:17]
AdwCleaner[S4].txt - [2216 octets] - [03/11/2014 21:31:02]
AdwCleaner[S5].txt - [5945 octets] - [09/11/2014 13:48:17]
AdwCleaner[S6].txt - [13611 octets] - [10/11/2014 18:04:54]
AdwCleaner[S7].txt - [3732 octets] - [14/11/2014 19:36:12]
AdwCleaner[S8].txt - [2768 octets] - [17/11/2014 08:18:26]
AdwCleaner[S9].txt - [2749 octets] - [20/11/2014 16:54:31]

########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[S10].txt - [2907 octets] ##########

[Boggin]

I've always used Windows own defragger as of the couple or so of others that I've tried, Windows is the only one that has achieved 0% Fragmentation.

Think I've found the solution to the icon problem in the Troubleshooting section of the FAQs for Nexus http://www.winstep.net/ultimatefaq.asp#i6

Apparently it's because of a bug in Stardock's IconPackager and to resolve it requires deleting a registry key, although the article doesn't give an alternative if this key doesn't exist - perhaps you may have to work your way through the rest of the registry to remove anything Winstep/Nexus related.

Go Start - type regedit - press enter and accept the UAC and from the FAQs navigate -

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile and look to see if sub key IconHandler exists - right click on it and select Delete.

Close the registry sections - File/Exit and reboot but create a restore point first before making any changes.

I'm not sure if the other bits that AdwCleaner found were part of Winstep but I had a program called Free Fixer which was a similar program to AdwCleaner, where you could select which to uninstall and it snagged that as a PuP and removed it, so ADW snagging those could be false positives - but as you are so short of space, why are you installing additional programs ?

Don't forget to run Disk Cleanup as an admin.

[Shane]

Have you ran combofix on the system yet?

Shane

[Gamezertruth]

Have you ran combofix on the system yet?

Shane

yes 

[Gamezertruth]

I've always used Windows own defragger as of the couple or so of others that I've tried, Windows is the only one that has achieved 0% Fragmentation.

okay then i will try this today   

I've always used Windows own defragger as of the couple or so of others that I've tried, Windows is the only one that has achieved 0% Fragmentation.

Think I've found the solution to the icon problem in the Troubleshooting section of the FAQs for Nexus http://www.winstep.net/ultimatefaq.asp#i6

Apparently it's because of a bug in Stardock's IconPackager and to resolve it requires deleting a registry key, although the article doesn't give an alternative if this key doesn't exist - perhaps you may have to work your way through the rest of the registry to remove anything Winstep/Nexus related.

Go Start - type regedit - press enter and accept the UAC and from the FAQs navigate -

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile and look to see if sub key IconHandler exists - right click on it and select Delete.

Close the registry sections - File/Exit and reboot but create a restore point first before making any changes.

good catch Boggin  but I’m unable to located this registry key or there is no such registry key

I'm not sure if the other bits that AdwCleaner found were part of Winstep but I had a program called Free Fixer which was a similar program to AdwCleaner, where you could select which to uninstall and it snagged that as a PuP and removed it, so ADW snagging those could be false positives - but as you are so short of space, why are you installing additional programs ?

Don't forget to run Disk Cleanup as an admin.

yeah such a program have a lot of false positives and i have to installing additional programs Because I want to change the style of desktop  icons and wallpapers and start menu and taskbar !  and today i was trying to do a disk cleanup but i have Serious problem where clicking on one of the disks and before disk cleaning is done it causing the unexpected shutdown of Windows ! even click on some link in the web is causing unexpected shutdown of Windows ! and i don’t know what to do !

[Shane]

Some of my repairs do target the hideicons and desktop and all that, I take it you already ran my windows repair with all the repairs selected?

Shane

[Gamezertruth]

Some of my repairs do target the hideicons and desktop and all that, I take it you already ran my windows repair with all the repairs selected?

Shane

aha  and i have already ran your program with all repairs on that system !

[Shane]

Ok so you said a blank desktop, so no taskbar either? Explorer.exe running? So just a black screen with the mouse? Are you able to open the task manager?

Shane