Desktop icons unclickable

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #1

    Desktop icons unclickable


    I am running Windows 7 Home Almost every other day, the icons on my desktop become unclickable. There is no harm done to the computer, but the only way to get the icons clickable again is to end "explorer.exe" process and restart it. I have no idea what is causing this. Shot in the dark, does anyone else know of this problem...and the solution? Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,963
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
       #2

    My first reaction would be to download and run the free version of MalwareBytes. Make sure to update it, then do a quick scan. Let us know what happens.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 53,363
    Windows 10 Home x64
       #3

    When this happens, does it remain that way or does it eventually correct itself? Next time it happens, open task manager and see if anything is using most of your CPU cycles. Does anything else become unresponsive? Taskbar, Start menu, etc? What happens when you right click an icon while this is happening?

    A Guy
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,132
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    Have you tried doing a System File Check (SFC) Scan?

    If not, then click the Start Orb, type cmd, as soon as it appears, right click cmd, and select Run As Administrator.
    Type sfc/scannow and hit Enter. Wait until it's finished verifying.
    If it detects problems with your system files, it should be able to fix those automatically.

    If I were you, I would also do what Petey7 suggested.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 118
    windows 7
       #5

    +1 to a guy

    And also check the event viewer for any information related to that
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    I'm having the same issue - cannot find any malware. If I can't find a solution I guess I'll try a system restore. It's quite puzzling!
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #7

    All those ideas are very good. If it was my computer I get worried when something changes and I didn't tell it to change or installed a new program. The first thing I would do is scan with my security programs and I use 4 of them. Next would be sfc /scannow. Please put a space between the c and /. I had a while back the same problem and that fixed it for me. I would not use a restore point until all my security scans passed. My understanding is that some bad things will also infect your restore points. After running your scans and sfc and everything is working properly I removed all my restore points and create a new one. This has worked for me.
    Please not! Update you security programs before scanning.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #8

    UPDATE: I couldn't find any malware or any issues on my machine... I then ran sfc/scannow and although it told me there were no issues after it had completed it's scan, the desktop issue seems to be fixed.

    I'm quite puzzled but also revealed that it's all okay again.

    Thanks for the tips :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    Windows 7
       #9

    I had the same issue. It started right after installation of Switcher (an Exposé like tool for Windows 7 http://insentient.net/ ).
    Shutting down of Switcher removed the problem again.
    Last edited by Recage; 16 Feb 2012 at 02:18.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,578
    Vista 64 bit and 32 bit (SP2)
       #10

    I've solved this same problem this way: Go into Task Manager and into Processes. See how many iexplore.exe*32 processes are running and shut them all down. That should do it.
      My Computer


 
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