Windows 7: desktop icons/start menu disappears on hp windows7

I need help! My desktop icons disappear on my new hp. If I leave the screen up for various amounts of time, the start menu and desktop icons disappear and my wallpaper is the only thing i see on my screen. It will not give me the chance to alt cntrl delete, I can right click but it only gives me the breifcase options. I was on the phone with hp,. they remotely accessed, saw nothing wrong. I took back the other computer, and now my new one is doing the same thing. I hate to turn off the computer by pushing the button, epsecially when Im trying to keep my new computer working properly. Has anyone had this issue? Can I changed a setting? Obviously it happened on the same type of computer twice. I saw other posts similair but I did not understand how to fix it. HELP PLEASE I would appreciate any advice!

sometimes turning the computer off by pushing the power button doesnt even bring the icons back. I have to do it 3 or more times to finally get windows to reboot, and show back up on my monitor

This is typical of the problems seen on HP's with Windows 7 being smothered by the worst load of factory bloatware and useless factory utilities, which have much better versions built into Windows 7 natively. I would follow these steps to Clean up factory bloatware.

The most important step is to cut off the bloatware freeloaders at Startup by achieving a Clean Boot.

Another important step therein is to check System File integrity for damaged System files. If this isn't enough to solve your problem then run a Repair Install as a last resort before clean reinstalling Windows 7.

Note that new HP's have a minimal Factory Recovery which can be run from within Windows 7 or boot.

Be sure to make your Recovery Disks now so you have a path back if needed, and a Windows 7 backup image once you've got it clean up to where you've regained Windows 7's instantaneous, lightweight performance: HP Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English) Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

THANK YOU for the fast reply gregrocker! I have to regretfully admit that I am almost computer illerate- and the steps you sent are almost like a foreign language to me. I will try to figure out the system file/bloatware, steps you explained. I cant believe with this kind of problem (which seems common after looking it up on google), HP acted as if they had no idea what I was talking about when explaining it to them. I appreciate your assistance and Ill let you know if I ever figure this out! If you have time, and any other advice, it is greatly appreciated! Ive never used this site before, and Im so impressed with the quick helpful reply

Im posting this just in case anyone finds this forum and has an issue like the one I described( I googled my issue and found this site, with similiar older posts) . After reading the replies from gregrocker, I called HP, asked them to help me stop bloatware, and do a recovery, the rep told me they have had similar problems, and asked me if my computer is "hooked up correctly" She asked how many cords I had plugged into my monitor. I had 3 at that time, she said that was the issue, I only needed 2, I removed one, and so far the issue has not come back. She explained with that extra cord plugged in (there was a blue cord and a white cord that "screw" in), I was confusing the computer and removing one usually helps that issue go away. As I said before, I dont know much about computers, and it is embarassing to admit it was something this simple (hopefully) but in case anyone else has the issue and finds this, maybe this will help them too--- so far its been working fine. Thanks again to the guy replying and trying to help me figure out whats wrong. I sure hope that this stops!! If not Ill try the next advice you sent.