I have this EXACT issue....bought my own Windows 7 disk. Same symptoms. Tried going to task manager and deleting one of several explorers that seem to run, but that only fixes it for a few minutes and then while surfing, the problem continues. How does this problem fix permanently? I have ran free scans for malware (Malware Adbytes, AVG, and PC Fix) and my own package purchase from McAfee.....nothing is found....and the computer seems healthy except for this icon issue.
If you have Skype, then that may be the problem. Try this (I did and my Skype still works fine and the problem was fixed). Open up Internet Explorer, at the top menu bar, click "Tools" then click "Manage my Add-ons". From the left side of that window, click "Toolbars and Extensions". From the selections in the middle, click once on "Skype Brower Helper" to select it, then at the bottom of that window, click "Disable". Close this window, and voila! I believe this will fix your problem. It did for me and what a pleasure it is now to open and close desktop icons!
Thank you, Instant Karma.....it WAS SKYPE!! You are 100% correct...I am so grateful!! I tried so many cleaners, virus protector freebies as well as malware, adware, spyware junk and all it was all along was Skype!
Cheers to you, IK! Thank you!!!!
You're welcome, but it wasn't my discovery, I just tried something that an earlier poster mentioned and I shared my result. IMissXP posted something about Skype in June and it was seconded by ThasayIT in July. We should give our cheers to them :)
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