icons on desktop are gone text is still there & start menu doesn't ope

icons on desktop are gone text is still there & start menu doesn't open.

I have searched and searched for an answer and this doesn't seem like the easy fix. I have tried the task manager explorer.exe thing. I have also right clicked on desktop and tried changing the view settings. I have scanned for viruses using stop sign I have deleted all that has showed. Also I have gone in safe mode and it shows the same problem... one more thing! When I change folder options to "show invisible folders and files" it doesn't show anything new.

Someone please help I've been on this Frickin problem for a few days...

Thank you in advance
Paul Dice

Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware free too.

Then try a System Restore to a prior date (before the issue).

And run the scan again.

I'll try doing that scan with that software. But as to doing a recovery, I can't go far enough back when the problem occurred. Thank you.

If it was only icon problem, it is possible to use Icon Cache - Rebuild
Go ahead and try it after MBAM scan.

Thank you I will try this as well, I guess the weird thing that I've never seen before is that when I put the computer in safe mode it is the same, or at least acts & looks the same. Same thing when I switch the folders over to see invisible. Still see the same stuff. It is very odd. Thank you again I will try both these steps.

I have done everything you have listed. Is there anything else I can try?

Here is what I'm looking at.

Here's a couple of articles that might help:

(Solved) Desktop icons are not Showing - Icons Disappeared or MissingTech Support All

Hide or unhide Desktop icons in Windows 8 / 7

Thank you for your information I have just tried all of it. Is there anything else I can try? I have a feeling the Explorer.exe is corrupt some how...

Try running a full scan with the free Malwarebytes.

https://www.malwarebytes.org/products/

If the Malwarebytes scan comes back clean you could try running a System File Checker scan from an elevated command prompt (Option Two) to rule out damaged or corrupt system files:

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker