Such behavior of Windows in the form of a missing desktop, shortcuts and icons in Windows can be expected after: a system crash, exposure to viruses, improper handling of various programs by cleaners. This problem caused by incorrect startup process explorer. In such a case, you need to access the Task Manager, from which you can easily manage Windows desktop recovery. Still, sometimes it happens that the desktop turns on, but there is nothing on it, no shortcuts, no folders, no start button and bottom panel. Windows itself is to blame for this. This instruction relevant for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.
Starting the Desktop from the Task Manager
The Windows desktop is a regular visually designed folder that is idealized by the explorer.exe process. The disappeared desktop is a sign that this process is not running. So you can solve the problem very simply by running it, of course, if the path to this file or the file itself is not damaged. You can launch the explorer.exe application from the task manager, to call it, hold down the three Ctrl + Alt + Delete buttons at the same time.
Task Manager, like any other application, has standard menu"File" with a drop-down list of available commands. We need a "New Task" command. In the window that appears, type the command to run - explorer.exe.
Click the "OK" button, wait, the desktop folder should be running. The following should appear on the screen: all folders, files and shortcuts, as well as the bottom panel and the Start button. What to do if it doesn’t help?
Launching the Windows Recovery Tool
If the previous method did not help, then the problem is more serious: the cause of the problem may be in a corrupted registry or a corrupted explorer.exe file. In this case, you need to quickly press the F8 button at system startup (for win 8, 8.1 and 10 - write msconfig in the search, launch the application, go to the boot tab - check the "safe mode" box - after completing all the operations, uncheck the box and reboot ) until a window appears in which you can choose to download the latest successful configuration. You can also try to restore the system to a working state.
If you restore Windows, go back to the task manager. We select a file, a new task and we enter already: rstrui.exe.
turn on system application Windows Restore, thanks to it you can select a restore point, for example, by date. The application will restore everything system files to initial state to the specified restore point date. You can also run the recovery tool from command line. To run the command line, write CMD in the same place. In the black window that appears, write rstrui.exe.
Editing the registry to restore the desktop
The registry is a database Windows settings. It is possible that some of its parameter values are corrupted. So, we are trying to independently check the necessary registry values. Let's look at the key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/WindowsNT/CurrentVersion/Winlogon
The value of the "Shell" parameter should be explorer.exe, and the "Userinit" parameter should be like this:
C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe
If yours is wrong, then replace with these correct ones.
Most the best option if you saved a copy of the registry on media before the desktop disappeared. If you encounter any problems with the registry, desktop, you will only need to import a previously saved copy with the correct registry settings into the faulty registry of the operating system.
Restoring desktop shortcuts
It happens that the desktop works fine, but shortcuts disappear somewhere. In this case, Windows itself is to blame, or rather, the computer maintenance utility. One of the tasks of which is the collection of damaged desktop shortcuts. Once a week, this utility automatically collects such "garbage". Thus, it removes shortcuts from the desktop. To avoid deleting important shortcuts, you need to disable the Windows Maintenance Tool. Open Control Panel -> System and Security -> Troubleshooter. On the left side, select Settings. In the tab that appears, disable the Windows Maintenance Tool.
I hope my instructions will help restore the desktop or missing shortcuts. If you have any questions please post them on our forum. If you have something to add, write in the comments and your method will also be added.
In this article, we will discuss a popular problem with not working shortcuts. After reading it, you will find out why the shortcuts do not work correctly and what needs to be done to correct this situation.
And at the end, it will be possible to consolidate the theory by watching a video instruction with a practical example. So good luck to all friends, do not be afraid to correct mistakes yourself.
Introduction
So, friends, if you have not yet found yourself in a situation where suddenly all the shortcuts on your computer start acting weird. Really freak out, let's say you run music player, and Word opens. Trying to launch a browser, but notepad opens. The situations are varied, but the essence always remains the same, when you try to launch the shortcut of interest, the “left” program comes off or nothing opens at all.
This always happens due to a failure in the settings of your operating system, as a result of which it does not work correctly and does not perform the tasks you set. Those guys who have already been interested in this or have gone through a similar case know that this situation is called a failure of file associations, shortcuts.
My shortcuts stopped working, why?
For those not in the know, every file on your computer opens with specific program and if you try to open it with a wrong, not designed program, most likely you will see a pop-up error or incomprehensible scribbles on the monitor.
This happens due to the fact that each file has its own format, called its extension. For example, you probably heard more than once that songs are recorded in mp3 format, pictures in jpeg format, and movies in avi. All these extensions allow the user and the operating system to understand what kind of file is in front of them and what program it needs to open.
I lead all this to the fact that labels also have their own lnk extension. And if the operating system receives a command to open the lnk extension using notepad, then all shortcuts on your computer will automatically open through notepad. As a result of changing the settings, shortcuts can be opened by any program on your computer, but they will not work as intended.
Most people, once in this situation, immediately begin to look for a solution to the problem, this is of course good. But I would first recommend understanding the causes of the failure. After all, if you do not understand what is happening, then in the future you can “stumble” about this situation ad infinitum.
So first sit down, calm down, think for a minute about what you were doing before the shortcuts stopped working. I think you will almost immediately determine the cause and remember forever that you do not need to do this. And I'll give you a little hint. Most often, shortcuts are opened by the same program due to your negligence, you yourself by chance and specifically set a default program for opening a file unknown to you.
To do this, just click on the file right click mouse and in the drop-down menu select the “Open with” pod while choosing the program and forget to uncheck the settings: “Use the selected program for all files of the selected type”
This is how shortcuts and programs “break” so easily.
Of course, besides this, there is still a high probability of catching a virus that, without your intervention, will make all the necessary settings, and shortcuts will also stop opening, as they should.
How to restore shortcuts? How to restore label associations?
There are several ways to return the system to a working state and not torment your brain. All tasks come down to changing the settings that are registered in the registry.
Therefore, if you are an excellent programmer, then it will not be difficult for you to go into the registry and manually edit it to a working state. But, most likely, it is impossible for an ordinary user to do this.
To automatically make the necessary settings in the registry, anyone, even a user who does not understand anything, should download a ready-made registry file and run it on their computer.
After you have downloaded the archive to your computer, you should find the registry file you need, namely, choose for which operating system the recovery is being performed. Decided? Now just double-click on it and confirm the changes in the system, after which we must reboot the system.
You can clearly see at the end of the article, there is a video instruction with a practical example for this.
If there is such a situation that after automatically making changes to the registry, the shortcuts still do not work, then we are preparing for a little adventure, but do not worry. You just need to manually start the registry and remove the extra section from there.
To start the registry, press the keys on the keyboard at the same time WIN+R(the WIN key is a button with a Windows flag) a command input panel will open in front of you, where you must enter the word "regedit"
After entering the command, click "ok" and a window with the computer registry opens in front of us
Now we need to find the section that made changes to the registry and delete it, for this we are looking for a section with the name UserChoice
It is located at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk
Once found, simply delete and restart the computer.
Shortcuts do not work, what should I do if the shortcuts do not open?
Write in the comments if the article helped to fix the situation with non-working shortcuts.
The article tells what to do if the Desktop folders do not open.
A situation where users have Windows XP/7/8/10” Folders do not open on the Desktop, it happens not so rarely. This can happen for various reasons, and there is no one instruction for all cases. AT this review we will talk about the possible causes of such a problem and ways to solve them.
Why many folders do not open on the Desktop, and how to deal with it?
First, try to roll back the system to its last working state, you may have experienced some kind of failure in “ Windows»:
- Go to " Control Panel" (for different versions « Windows path may vary slightly).
Why folders on the desktop do not open Windows desktop 7, 8, 10, XP reasons. What to do if folders on the desktop do not open
- Next, click on " Recovery»
Why folders on the Windows 7, 8, 10, XP desktop do not open. What to do if folders on the desktop do not open
- And start the process of restoring the system to the last working state, follow the further instructions of the system.
Why folders on the Windows 7, 8, 10, XP desktop do not open. What to do if folders on the desktop do not open
If this does not help, then we will act in other ways. Possible cause, by which the Desktop folders do not open, there may be damage to the file " explorer.exe", which is located on the disk " FROM" in folder " Windows».
If this file is damaged, infected with viruses, or somehow deleted, then this may also affect the problem we have described - the Desktop folders will not open. Viruses can also infect other system files, which will also affect our problem.
First you need to try to log into the system in safe mode, and if this does not help us, then we will proceed to other actions.
You will need to check your computer for viruses. Since we will be working with the file " explorer.exe”, we need to scan the computer before the system boots. To do this, this product of the Kaspersky laboratory will help you, or download this program if the first option does not bear any fruit (or the option is paid):
Why folders on the Windows 7, 8, 10, XP desktop do not open. What to do if folders on the desktop do not open
The program is free, it can disable all unnecessary components in " Windows". After that, you will need to restart your computer and check if the folders on the Desktop open. If they open, then try again to enable the disabled components one by one. Your task is to find out which of these components is malicious and causes the Desktop folders not to be opened. Remove this component or reinstall it.
If this option did not help you, then most likely you will need to reinstall the operating system.
Video: What to do if they do not open on the desktop | Folders, files?
Hello! Some users may have encountered such a problem when, after turning on the computer, they suddenly find that it is impossible to open any of the shortcuts on the desktop, unless, of course, there are any on the computer desktop itself.
Usually in such situations, users sin on the mouse itself, they say it is faulty or it is faulty itself USB port. Although in fact the reason is a completely different situation. So what's the real deal? When one day shortcuts and folders do not open on the desktop. In today's issue, we will look at the main ways to fix such a common problem.
Just the other day I was asked a similar question regarding this type of problem.
Hello Dmitry! This morning I turned on my computer and found that all the shortcuts on my desktop began to appear the same, and if I try to open the Excell program, then my documents folder starts up. I decided to restart the computer, but as a result, shortcuts and folders do not open now, in addition, the Start button has stopped working. In computers, I'm not special of course, so I turned to you. Sincerely, Viktor Sergeevich.
So, what to do in such a situation and how to be? I must say right away that the problem is not so serious and it is easily solved. First of all, you do not need to demolish or delete something in a hurry. You need to calm down and get your hands on it. Nothing terrible happened and all your data on the computer was not lost. In general, this situation is due to the fact that the user tried to open a program with a completely different program that was not intended to open it.
What does it mean? You ask! Let me tell you in detail so that you can understand it better. All programs on your computer are stored in the Program Files folder. Moreover, during installation, each program creates a so-called shortcut with the .lnk extension on the desktop for its further launch. This is done so that every time you start a program you do not have to open the Program Files folder and look for the program you need.
For example, you have installed a movie playback program on your computer. Accordingly, the extension of such a program will be, for example, .avi and a shortcut with the extension .lnk will appear on the desktop. That is, the shortcut of the program serves as a pointer to the operating system in which program the computer needs to open the launch shortcut by the user.
And if such a situation arises when we launch one program, and as a result, a completely different program opens to us, then in this case the so-called failure of file associations or shortcuts occurs. Your system has crashed and that's why there is such a confusion with opening programs. Although in some cases the shortcuts do not open at all. As a result, users think that a virus got into their computer and made such an incident with shortcuts. Often, a virus can do such things, but these are very rare cases when a virus is the culprit. Of course, you first need to check your computer for viruses. If you do not know what is the best antivirus program to do this, then check out this article:
Very often, I would even say that about 85% of the culprit is the user himself. How could this even happen, you ask? For example, you decide to open a movie on your computer. You double click on the .avi file and a dialog box opens asking you which program you want to open it with given file. You inadvertently specified an archive for example WinRaR, in addition, the checkbox "Use a program to open all files of this type" was also set.
From this moment on, strange things begin to happen with your labels.
How to eliminate the reason when shortcuts do not open?
Method 1. This method simplest. This method is suitable for those who do not want to edit and climb something in the operating system registry itself. You just need to download the finished file and run it on your computer. After that, you will need to restart your computer. The executable file you run will make all the necessary changes to the system registry.
And if the problem was a file association failure, then all the shortcuts after restarting the computer will again function properly.
Method number 2. This method is suitable for those who do not want to edit and climb something in the operating system registry itself. If the creation of restore points is activated on your computer, then it will not be difficult for you to roll back the system to a previous state. You can find out how to do this in this issue:
This method is suitable for operating systems s Windows versions 7 and above. In Windows XP, it will be possible to restore the system through the image itself created earlier. But this is not a very quick solution for a Windows XP system. For Windows XP you can download a ready-made file.
However, if there are no restore checkpoints in your system, then proceed to the next method.
Method number 3. When your computer is booted, then in this case you should press the WIN + R key combination to open the Run window. In the window that opens, in the line itself, type the regedit command and press "Enter". The Registry Editor window will open. Next, you should go to the next path.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk
Now you should delete the .lnk folder and restart your computer. After that everything should work.
Method number 4. In this case, you can return the system to a previous state thanks to a previously created image using third party programs. For example, Acron true image, Macrium Reflect and etc.
At the end of today's article "Why desktop shortcuts do not open" I suggest you also watch the following video.
I hope today's release was interesting for you, and if you suddenly have not yet encountered faulty shortcuts on your desktop, then this article will be a useful note for you.
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