The task of restoring shortcuts to the desktop of a computer running Windows can be caused by either a configuration failure or exposure to malicious software.
Instructions
Step 1
Call the context menu of the desktop of the computer running under Windows XP by clicking the right mouse button on an empty space and select the "Properties" item. Use the "Desktop" tab in the dialog box that opens and click the "Customize Desktop" button. Apply the checkboxes in the lines of the required elements and confirm the saving of the changes made by clicking the OK button.
Step 2
Call the context menu of the desktop of a computer running Windows version 7 or Vista by right-clicking on an empty space and select "Personalization". Expand the Change Desktop Icons link and apply the check boxes in the boxes for the desired components. Confirm the execution of the selected action by clicking the OK button.
Step 3
If you cannot restore the desktop icons using the above method, start the task manager utility by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl, alt="Image" and Del function keys. Go to the Applications tab of the dialog box that opens and click the New Task button. Type regedit on the Open line in the new dialog box.
Step 4
Expand the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / Software / Microsoft / WindowsNT / CurrentVersion branch and double-click the folder named Winlogon. Select the option named Shell and double-click it as well. Change the value of this key to explorer.exe and confirm saving the changes made by clicking OK.
Step 5
Go to the Image File Execution Options folder located in the same branch and delete the explorer.exe option on the right side of the dialog that opens. Save your changes by clicking OK and exit the Registry Editor utility.
Step 6
If all these steps did not restore the desktop icons, use the specialized AVZ application to restore normal system performance.
