New
#1
Desktop Icons cannot be selected?
Can anyone possibly tell me why almost overnight that any of my desktop icons are now un-selectable?
If I re-boot the PC and let it come back up, I then can select the various icons.
Very weird.
Desktop Icons cannot be selected?
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New #2
You mean when you click or double-click on any desktop icon -- nothing happens?
If so, I'm watching this thread - 'cause it happens to me also from time to time.
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New #3
There are a few reasons this might happen
1) the system is bogged down and the response is VERY slow
fix=clean startup
2) the Windows crawl is affecting the desktop icons
fix=reduce index and rebuild
3) there might be System File corruption
fix=SFC
4) Malware
fix=Scan/clean, scan/clean, scan/clean by multiple malware pgms .... until healthy scan reported
It sounds bad, but only if Malware is the cause should you be concerned, everything else is relatively easy to check and fix.
I offered my suggested fixes below each list number in case I get distracted - another member can see the direction I was taking.
Clean Startup, see: Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup
If the issue is intermittent, it might take a while to determine if that solved it. You know better than anyone on this side of the monitor how frequently this occurs (it might be helpful if you stated that = every hour, every day, every week, once a month....)
There isn't any real need to do any of the other things if a Clean Startup solved it - right?
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New #4
Thank you SlartyBart for your detailed response. I run "Malwarebytes' at least once every week. It is clean.
I will try your other suggestion(s) next.
It would seem that it is happening non-stop right now as we do not shut down the Pc at night.
If I re-boot/restart the computer it will allow you to double click on the icon for a short time and then revert back to a dead icon.
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New #5
Can you right click on theat icon and see the context menu? All those menu entries are working? Which ones aren't working?
If an application have been successfully launched.... you experience no hangs/crash?
Is "start menu" still working then?
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New #6
Have you checked your temps.
Your system could be overheating and throttling down making things work very slow or not at all.
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New #7
Do you have fences installed?
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New #8
Ok MrDetail - thanks. Take it step by step, paying attention to Detail
and posting the results you get from each step. Members need to 'see' what you see.
Kaktussoft asks a good question; Is it only Desktop icon/shortcuts that exhibit this behavior?
Bill
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New #9
Sorry guys but we had snow falling here in Philly all day yesterday. No time to try any fixes yet due to clean-up outdoors.
Yes, it is only the desktop icons that exhibit this problem. No problem with the :Start Menu". Cannot click, right click or otherwise on any desktop icon. It is as if it is dead.
Have not checked my "Temps". Not sure how to do that and correct anything. No fences installed, whatever they are in a PC.
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New #10
Your not the only one who didn't know what a fence in Windows 7 is.
Fences - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com
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