Re: I have lost desktop icons and cannot right click

On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 01:16:16 GMT, buffalo wrote:

Thank you, Sharon but when I click on taskbar and start menu icon in control
panel, nothing happens. I right clicked it and said 'open' - still nothing.

Is this PC a personal PC - stand alone or on a home small network? Or is it
a member of a domain? The reason I ask is that domain administrators
sometimes block control panel items and other abilities of regular users.
If on a domain, check with the domain administrator (or the IT department
at work) to see if this is the case. If you have a valid reason for needing
a feature re-instated, they are usually pretty agreeable.

If this is a personal PC -- you have missing desktop items, a lack of right
click and a broken control panel. The list is growing. Anything else not
working right on this system? It's beginning to sound like it may be
suffering from a malware intrusion.

Check the system as thoroughly as you can. Use up to date programs and up
to date "definitions" for each of them. Both antivirus and anti-spyware
programs should be used for this check. MVP Malke Routh has a nice page
that goes over the needed steps in more detail:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Another thing you might try: Create a new user account (must be logged on
as a member of the administrator group to create accounts). Log on to the
newly created account to see if the problem persists. The goal here is to
find out if the problem is limited to one user account or if it is a system
wide problem. If limited to one account, consider moving your data from the
damaged account over to the new account. Once all important data is moved,
delete the "broken" account.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
.

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