Windows 7: totally lost the desktop and taskbar

hi there
I went on holiday with my laptop and when I started it up it said the desktop was on a missing G drive. my computer has only c, d and f drives no g drive on it anywhere. I can see the desktop wallpaper and even change it but the shortcuts and icons have all disapeared from both the taskbar and destop both. This meant I had to go searching for everything instead of having the shortcuts. I tried to set up more shortcuts but the just do not show up.i have attached the error message i get when I try to access the desktop.please can someone help me out.

Hello, the first thing I would try is a System Restore Point from before this started.

System Restore

See if that fixes it. A Guy

i have tried that and no joy, but thanx for getting back so quick

Try navigating to C:\Users\(Your user name)\Desktop

Does the folder exist? Do the shortcuts show in the folder? If so, right click the desktop folder, choose Properties, then the location tab. Click restore default.

A Guy

And if you boot into SafeMode do you still get that message?

Ø Power down your computer.
Ø Power up your computer.
Ø IMMEDIATELY—Start tapping the SPACEBAR
Ø When the Windows Boot Manager screen appears,
Press the F8 key
Ø The Advanced Boot Options screen will appear.
Ø Using the down arrow key, highlight Safe Mode
Ø Press the ENTER key.

In shorthand,
PowerUp | Spacebar until Windows Boot Manager
| F8 | Safe Mode | ENTER

=============================================================================
=============================================================================
CCleaner | Tools icon (left-hand side) | System Restore button | Make a "snip" of the list shown please.

Link for CCleaner is in my signature.

Here is how to make a snip and how to upload the snip.

Make a snapshot (Snip)
WIN | type SNIP | ENTER | New
Drag the cursor around the area you want to snip.
File | Save as | select save location and name | Save

WIN=key with the Microsoft logo on top.


Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

Does the folder exist? NO
Do the shortcuts show in the folder? NO
If so, right click the desktop folder, choose Properties, then the location tab. Click restore default.
They are not there in the menu at all.
When I go into safe mode I still get the message.
thanx for all your help guys but I thibnk I will have to do a full reinstal, it's probably well overdue anyway.

Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Hello boopygirl.

Edit location of your Desktop in Registry Editor :
1. Click on Start and type Regedit and open it (If you are promted by UAC click yes)
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
3. Right click on Desktop, then click on modify and first try to modify it to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
4. Restart computer.
5. If that dont work modify it to location of your desktop (ex. G:\Users\Your Name\Desktop).
6. Restart computer.
7. If that dont work again , do clean install.

Trinty

I'm concerned as to why it changed, and what else may have been effected. A clean install is sometimes the best. I'd take this as an opportunity to get a 2nd hard drive, and start making system images. The best insurance of all. A Guy

Thank you for all your replys and help. I have now done a full reinstall and everything loos good. I already had all my stuff on an external hard drive, so it was really only windows and other software that had to be reinstalled. I never keep my stuff on the actual laptop just in case the worst happens as it did this time. Thank you for all your help and consider this problem fixed