Solved Desktop was locked up. Clicking on icons had no action. Taskbar worked

Just like the title says, clicking on the desktop had no effect, just as if it was all part of the picture. Loging off and back on fixed it. Anyone ever experienced that?

Windows explorer worked fine and so did all files and applications that I clicked on. The taskbar worked fine too. I had a virus outbreak a couple of weeks ago, but all seems clean now and I've had no other odd behavior, but this kind of brings back some worry about the stability of my system. Right now it's only a curiosity, but I'd like to know if anyone has an idea about it.

Does anybody else have access to your computer? Their are programs that will put a false desktop on your computer. Google false desktops and see if you can find any of those programs on your computer. If it was my computer I would check for malware and virus, you might of got another one. What kind of security programs do you use?

NIS 2011 and MBAM(weekly) are my main defenses. I'll run an MBAM scan and a Norton Power Eraser scan too. Nothing unusual is listed in process explorer. I check it every day.

You could also run sfc /scannow from the cmd. prompt/admin. System File Checker can fix many problems. If it finds a problem run it a couple of times again. Sometimes it can't fix all the problems at the same time.
When and if this problem arises again use the taskbar to open up the desktop and see if the desktop works as it should. (The little bar far to the right on the taskbar, click on it.) You could take a look in msconfig and see if anything look different in startup. If it doesn't happen again at least you have completed some good security checks.

It just did it again while I was watching. It happened when the slideshow changed background pictures.
I'm head out on a weekend excursion, so I'll let y'all know what's up Sunday night.

When you get back try turning off the slide show and see if it happens again.

NPE with a reboot and MBAM came up clean. I turned off the slideshow before I left Saturday. I'll keep an eye on it.
I also solved an infection problem last week; one which I had started a thread about here. I've neglected to close it out, so I'll post about that. It could offer a clue too.
Here's the link to that:
http://www.sevenforums.com/system-s...ize-these-three-infections-google-doesnt.html

Thanks,
Rusty

I would scan all those pictures, one could be infected. Right click on every one and scan.

Didn't find any bad files. I'm going to delete that folder and make a new slideshow. I haven't run sfc yet, but I will tonight.

I deleted the desktop pictures folder along with all recently added pictures. I made a new folder and the slideshow and desktop have been working fine since.
I never did run SFC, but I'll put it on my to-do list. Thanks, problem seemingly solved.

Rusty

Glad you fixed. One of those pictures has something bad in it. It could also fooled around with system files, that why I suggested running sfc /scannow. If you do run it more than once boot after each time.

More Locked Desktop Icon Solutions

I've run into this issue with a few friends, and now myself in 2016. I feel a responsibility to address this for anyone else searching for locked Desktop icons solutions for Windows 7. This thread is almost 5 years old and I have never yet seen any solution other than the below .reg files, taking a peak at the users registry path or re-booting and/or re-starting Explorer.

After the malware is taken care of, running sfc /scannow in Safe Mode with Command Prompt as Administrator will do the best job because the system is running with the least amount of locked files in use. Files that are protected and not critical to restart Windows are not repaired. When a file IS repaired the related registry keys are also repaired but, our mileage of course may vary. Layback Bear's excellent advice on re-booting after each sfc /scannow pass is crucial for the best repair.

Various times I have seen the users Desktop registry key get changed to another location. Drill down to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

Then check in the right column under the Name heading for Desktop
Scan to the right and make sure the Type heading for Desktop is REG_SZ like all the rest of course.
Then in the last column: Data - you may find the users Desktop path askew.
Make sure the path shows:

C:\Users\THE CURRENT USERS ACTUAL NAME HERE\Desktop

Where the underlined words in gray of course are the actual users name.
If you're at your wits end you can try this fix posted here on sevenforums at entry #8:
http://tinyurl.com/zzuu993
DO NOT click entry #8's url - it is a techjawa page gone malicious.

Here it is in the wayback machine:
http://tinyurl.com/zqsomxv
There are both 32 and 64 bit .reg files. Tested it extensively on a virtual machine 1st and then myself and others who actually had some of these strange issues.
Hope this helps

Hi Walker, thanks for your thoughts. You must've felt particularly compelled as you've been a silent member of Sevenforums for a few years, so welcome to the discussions.

I had completely forgotten this thread that I started, but it appears that in this case, deleting my desktop slideshow folder was a permanent fix. I'm still using the same old computer, which continues to cadillac along provided the power isn't cut. Then it must cool a while before it will power up again. Time for a new power supply I suppose. I haven't blown the dust out like I used to do every few months. I love my 7 and don't want to "Upgrade" at all. It's been so reliable despite daily heavy use, that I've forgotten most of what I knew about handling crashes and such emergencies of past systems. Luckily, I've kept a detailed notebook on how to recover. And of course, this forum is a great resource. Thanks, everyone here for that.
Rusty