Solved icons missing from Desktop

[nfusmani]

Hi. I am having a very strange problem with my Sony VAIO. Coule of days back, I got a virus which would not let me do anything but to buy their softwere for computer maintenance. I decided to do System Restore on an earlier date. It was done successfully but with a probelm. I had tons of stuff including folders, doc files, pics, excel sheet etc on my Desktop. After the system restore all icons disappeard from DT. I had backups of some of the files so I tried to copy my files on the desktop but it gives me msg that file already exists but there is no file which i can see. I have tried everything possible, includind right click, view, show icons, refreshing desktop, checking the file properties if they are hidden, they are not. I can see the doc files when I open MS-Word and open files from desktop and I can save on Desktop but on Desktop I cannot see those files. I have other icons visible on the DT.

I am using Windows 7 home premium. Any clues what is going on and how can it be fixed. I have files on DT but I cant see them Even after I have copied from backup to DT.

I need serious help please. Thanks in advance.
Regards
Nasir

 

[Mike Connor]

Unfortunately, some malware causes damage to the system.

First, you need to make sure Malware is not affecting your system. Download this,

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.50.1 - FileHippo.com

install it, update the database and run a FULL scan.

If it finds anything, post the log here.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[nfusmani]

Thanks Mike for the reply. I downloaded and scanned the system. It found two infections, Trojan.FakeAlert and PUM.Bad.Proxy. I cleaned both of them. Here is the log

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org
Database version: 6458
Windows 6.1.7600
Internet Explorer 8.0.7600.16385
4/27/2011 4:03:10 PM
mbam-log-2011-04-27 (16-03-10).txt
Scan type: Full scan (C:\|Q:\|)
Objects scanned: 323820
Time elapsed: 50 minute(s), 38 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0
Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\g043oqxanu (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ProxyServer (PUM.Bad.Proxy) -> Value: ProxyServer -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

 

[Mike Connor]

OK. Hopefully that solved your problems?

If it didn't, you need to find whatever settings the malware changed and set them back again. A good place to start is with file and folder default settings, you can find tutorials for restoring default settings here;

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/index2.html?filter[2]=File%20Folder%20Settings

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[nfusmani]

Did almost everything. Restore most of the defaults. Still I cant see the files and folders on the DT. When I copy a new one, it tells me that it already exists but cant see. When I ran Antimalaware, it scanned all the files including the ones on the Desktop which are invisible. Anythiing else which you can think of.

Regards
Nasir

 

[HammerHead]

The Obvious

Gotta mention this may be you already checked it. Right click desktop, click view, "show desktop icons" should be check marked.

 

[Mike Connor]

Did almost everything. Restore most of the defaults. Still I cant see the files and folders on the DT. When I copy a new one, it tells me that it already exists but cant see. When I ran Antimalaware, it scanned all the files including the ones on the Desktop which are invisible. Anythiing else which you can think of.

Regards
Nasir

Right click on your desktop and make sure "Show desktop icons" is checked;



Regards....Mike Connor

 

[nfusmani]

Restored manully as well. nothing works. There has to be a solution. Folders are there but I cant see them on my DT.

 

[Mike Connor]

Restored manully as well. nothing works. There has to be a solution. Folders are there but I cant see them on my DT.

What do you see when you look directly at your desktop folder, something like this?



( I have no other icons except the default system icons on my desktop )

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[nfusmani]

yeh. the first thing i did that ... right click, view, show icons... I just made a backup on a cd with windows backup utility, all the folders show in backup selection but in lighter color then in normal like a hidden folder. I have changed the attribute from the command mode to -h.. didnt work.. very strange..

 

[nfusmani]

Restored manully as well. nothing works. There has to be a solution. Folders are there but I cant see them on my DT.

What do you see when you look directly at your desktop folder, something like this?



( I have no other icons except the default system icons on my desktop )

Regards....Mike Connor

No. i have all the default icons plus some files which i copied later.

 

[Mike Connor]

Restored manully as well. nothing works. There has to be a solution. Folders are there but I cant see them on my DT.

What do you see when you look directly at your desktop folder, something like this?



( I have no other icons except the default system icons on my desktop )

Regards....Mike Connor

No. i have all the default icons plus some files which i copied later.

Yes, that is what I meant. can you see the files in your desktop folder, but not on your actual desktop?

Check that your desktop settings are correct, either right-click on the desktop folder , or go to "Personalisation" by right-clicking on the desktop, and choosing "Change desktop icons";



You need to check the relevant boxes for what you want to see on the desktop.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Mike Connor]

Also, you can try this. Paste the following command into the run box;

cmd /c del %userprofile%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db /a

Now paste this into the run box;

explorer.exe

CCleaner will also reset the icon cache;

CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

It can be something of a trial finding all the stuff the malware has changed. With some stuff, where you only had a "light" infection, it is quick and easy, with other stuff it's a lot harder.

If you get a bad infection, then often the only recourse is a clean install.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[nfusmani]

I fixed it. Something which I had done couple of times earlier but failed worked this time. I selected C from my computer, then user, then desktop folder properties, click on Hide and applied with subdirectories option, repeated by unclicking the Hide and it showed up. I think it is becuase we scanned the harddisk with Malaware and killed two infections. This was preventing them to UNHIDE.

Thanks a lot Mr. Connor and Hammerhead for your kind help. Greatly appreciated.

 

[Mike Connor]

I fixed it. Something which I had done couple of times earlier but failed worked this time. I selected C from my computer, then user, then desktop folder properties, click on Hide and applied with subdirectories option, repeated by unclicking the Hide and it showed up. I think it is becuase we scanned the harddisk with Malaware and killed two infections. This was preventing them to UNHIDE.

Thanks a lot Mr. Connor and Hammerhead for your kind help. Greatly appreciated.

A pleasure. Glad it worked out for you.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[HammerHead]

Great

It's great you got that solved. It was a wierd one.

 

[nfusmani]

Thanks again and I learned some new stuff from both of you gentlemen.

Regards
Nasir

 

[amailuk]

How I resloved my "Lost Desktop Icons"

I have a Windows Premium x64-bit operating system. Copying the files back to the desktop dint help, they were still invisible anyways. I could still see my files when I checked this file path "" it was not amusing.


This was resolved though by right clicking anywhere on the blank desktop, selecting VIEW (second from top on my PC) it gives another dropdown. From which I selected SHOW DESKTOP ICONS (second from bottom; it was de-selected) and I had my icons back. I had to delete the copies of the files I had copied, no problem I was only too happy to do that.


VIEW -----> SHOW DESKTOP ICONS


After readings soo many forums, I found the problem with my PC to have been installing "InfraRecorder" only didn’t realize this till I read a few forums. When you open this CD Writing Software, it leaves you with a cleaned out desktop next time you open your PC!


Seeking a solution took me as far as installing a malware remover program that found no malware. I downloaded a recommended "Windows Fix" to no avail, it was that frustrating, just stopped short of doing a restore point repair. I have since uninstalled "InfraRecorder."


Many Thanks in a bunch, and appreciation for the help of all those that shared their experiences and knowledge.


AJ