Hello! Some users may have encountered such a problem when, after turning on the computer, they suddenly discover that it is impossible to open any of the shortcuts on the desktop, if, of course, there are any on the computer desktop itself.
Usually in such situations, users blame the mouse itself, saying it is faulty or the mouse itself is faulty USB port. Although in fact the reason is a completely different situation. So what exactly is the matter? When one day shortcuts and folders do not open on the desktop. In today's episode, we will look at the main ways to eliminate 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 discovered that all the shortcuts on my desktop began to appear the same, and if I try to open the Excel program, then my documents folder starts up. I decided to restart the computer, but as a result, shortcuts and folders no longer open, and in addition, the Start button stopped working. Of course, I’m not an expert in computers, so I turned to you. Best regards, Viktor Sergeevich.
So, what to do in such a situation and what to do? I’ll say right away that the problem is not so serious and it can be easily solved. First of all, you don't need to tear anything down or remove it in a hurry. You need to calm down and pull yourself together. Nothing bad 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.
How to understand this? You ask! I’ll tell you in detail so that it becomes clearer to you. All programs on your computer are stored in the Program Files folder. Moreover, during installation, each program creates a so-called shortcut on the desktop with the extension .lnk for its further launch. This is done so that every time you start a particular program you do not have to open the Program Files folder and search for the desired program.
For example, you installed a program for playing movies 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 program shortcut serves as a pointer for operating system In which program does the computer need to open the shortcut that the user launches?
And if a situation arises when we launch one program, and as a result a completely different program opens to us, then in this case a so-called failure of file associations or shortcuts occurs. There was a failure in your system and that is why there was such 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 caused such an incident with shortcuts. Often a virus can do similar 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 don’t know which antivirus software is best 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 a file with the .avi extension and a dialog box opens asking you what program you want to open it in this file. You inadvertently specified an archive, for example WinRaR, and in addition, the checkbox “Use a program to open all files of this type” was checked.
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 the simplest. This method is suitable for those who do not want to edit anything and mess around in the operating system registry itself. All you need to do is download the finished file and run it on your computer. After this, you will need to restart your computer. The executable file you launch will make all the necessary changes to the system registry.
And if the problem was a file association failure, then all shortcuts will function properly again after restarting the computer.
Method number 2. This method is suitable for those who do not want to edit anything and mess around in the operating system registry itself. If the creation of recovery checkpoints is activated on your computer, then it will not be difficult for you to roll back the system to a previous state. You can learn how to do this in this issue:
This method is suitable for operating systems version Windows 7 and higher. In Windows XP, it will be possible to restore the system through the image itself created earlier. But it's not very quick solution for Windows XP system. For Windows XP you can download a ready-made file.
However, if there are no restore checkpoints on your system, then move on to the next method.
Method No. 3. When your computer is booted, in this case you should press the key combination WIN + R to open the Run window. In the window that opens, in the line itself, type the command regedit and press “Enter”. A Registry Editor window will open. Next, you should follow 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 this everything should work.
Method number 4. In this case, you can return the system to its previous state thanks to the previously created image using third party programs. For example Acronic True Image, Macrium Reflect etc.
At the end of today’s article “Why shortcuts on the desktop do not open,” I suggest you also watch the following video.
I hope today’s issue was interesting for you and if you have not yet encountered faulty shortcuts on your desktop, then this article will be a useful note for you.
This Windows behavior in the form of a missing desktop, shortcuts and icons in Windows can be expected after: a system failure, exposure to viruses, improper handling various programs 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 the recovery of the Windows desktop. Also, sometimes it happens that the desktop turns on, but there is nothing on it, no shortcuts, no folders, no start button or bottom panel. Windows itself is to blame for this. This instruction relevant for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.
Launching the desktop from task manager
The Windows desktop is a regular folder with a visual design that is idealized by the explorer.exe process. A missing desktop is a sign that it's not working. this process. This means that 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 launch it, press three Ctrl+Alt+Delete buttons simultaneously.
In the task manager, like in any other application, there is standard menu“File” with a drop-down list of available commands. We need a "New Challenge" command. In the window that appears, type the launch command - 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?
Run Windows Recovery Tool
If the previous method did not help, then the problem is more serious: the cause of the problem may be a damaged registry or a damaged explorer.exe file. In this case, you need to quickly press the F8 button when starting the system (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 operations, uncheck the box and reboot ) until a window appears in which you can select to download the latest successful configuration. You can also try to restore the system to a working state.
If you restore Windows, go to the task manager again. Select the file, new task and enter: rstrui.exe.
Turns on system application Windows recovery, thanks to it you can select a restore point, for example, by date. The application will restore everything system files To original state on the specified restore point date. You can also run the recovery tool from the command line. To launch the command line, write CMD there. 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, let's try to check the necessary registry values ourselves. 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 value of the "Userinit" parameter should be:
C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe,
If yours is wrong, replace with these correct ones.
Most best option, if before the loss of your desktop you saved a copy of the registry on media. If any problems arise with the registry or desktop, you will only need to import a previously saved copy with the correct values of the registry parameters into the faulty operating system registry.
Restoring desktop shortcuts
It happens that the desktop works fine, but the shortcuts disappear somewhere. In this case, Windows itself is to blame, or rather, the computer maintenance utility. One of the tasks of which is to collect 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 -> Problem Finder and Fixer. On the left side, select Settings. In the tab that appears, disable the Windows Maintenance Tool.
I hope my instructions will help you restore your desktop or missing shortcuts. If you have any questions, write them on our forum. If you have anything to add, write in the comments and your method will also be added.
By the time the technician arrives, diagnoses and fixes the problem, 2-3 hours of your precious time will have passed. But we can offer you remote computer assistance - no additional expectations and very effective.
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The article tells you what to do if Desktop folders do not open.
The situation when users “ Windows XP/7/8/10“Folders on the Desktop do not open, this does not happen very rarely. This can happen for various reasons, and there is no one instruction for all cases. IN this review we will talk about possible causes of this problem and ways to solve them.
Why do many folders on the Desktop not open, and how to deal with it?
First, try rolling 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 can't folders open on my desktop? Windows desktop 7, 8, 10, XP reasons. What to do if folders on the desktop cannot be opened
- Next, click on “ Recovery»
Why folders on the Windows desktop do not open in Windows 7, 8, 10, XP reasons. What to do if folders on the desktop cannot be opened
- 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 desktop do not open in Windows 7, 8, 10, XP reasons. What to do if folders on the desktop cannot be opened
If this does not help, then we will act in other ways. Possible reason, due to which Desktop folders do not open, there may be damage to the file " explorer.exe", which is located on the disk " WITH" in the folder " Windows».
If this file is damaged, infected with viruses, or somehow deleted, then this may also affect the problem we described - 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 safe mode, and if this does not help us, then we will proceed to other actions.
You will need to scan your computer for viruses. Since we will be working with the file " explorer.exe", we will need to scan the computer before the system even boots. To do this, this Kaspersky Lab product 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 desktop do not open in Windows 7, 8, 10, XP reasons. What to do if folders on the desktop cannot be opened
The program is free, it can disable all unnecessary components in " Windows" After this, you will need to restart your computer and check if the folders on the Desktop open. If they open, then try turning the disabled components back on one by one. Your task is to find out which of these components is malicious and is causing the Desktop folders not to open. Uninstall this component or reinstall it.
If this option does not help you, then most likely you will need to reinstall the operating system.
Video: What to do if |Folders and files do not open on the desktop?
Often, users of the new operating system encounter an error when desktop icons do not open in Windows 10, and when double-clicking on a folder, it does not open, although the icon on the toolbar is displayed. There are several ways to solve this problem. In each individual case, one or another method helps solve the problem. Therefore, each of them will have to be tested.
Desktop folders won't open in Windows 10
If folders on your desktop stop opening in Windows 10, you should do the following.
We launch the operating system with a minimum set of drivers, services and programs. This type of startup is called a “clean boot.” To do this, perform the following steps:
- Press “Win+R” and enter “msconfig”.
- The System Configuration window will appear. Check the “Selective startup” checkbox and uncheck the following items: “Process the SYSTEM.INI file”, “Process the WIN.INI file”, “Load startup items”.
- Go to the “Services” tab and check the box next to “Do not display Microsoft services.” Click on the “Disable all” button. Click “Apply”, “OK”, restart the computer.
If the folders start to work with a clean boot, then a software conflict is possible. We recommend removing the last one installed program or perform a Windows 10 system restore (if you haven't installed any applications recently).
On the Microsoft forum, operating system developers recommend that if a problem occurs with folders not opening, create a new Windows 10 account and see if the problem persists. If the defect lies not in account user, it is worth rolling back the system to the latest critical update.
Also, if this type of problem occurs, it is worth checking the system for viruses. In a number of cases, it was the virus software that blocked the opening of folders and the launch of programs.
As an option to solve the problem, you can try this method:
If folders do not open but are minimized on the taskbar, we recommend checking the system for damaged files. To do this, do the following:
- Launch the command line with Administrator rights.
- Enter “sfc /scannow”.
- After rebooting the system, enter the command “dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth” in the console.
- After the scan is completed, you need to restart Windows
If none of the above methods help solve the problem, you should start restoring system files using the Media Creation Tool utility.
Applications won't open on desktop in Windows 10
You can restore the functionality of applications on the desktop in Windows 10 through the command line. To do this we do the following:
- Click right click mouse on the “Start” button and select “Command Prompt Administrator”.
- The console will open. Enter "notepad". Copy the following text into notepad:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.exe]
"exefile"=hex(0):
- Select “File”, “Save as...”. In the “File type” field, set “All files” and set the encoding to “Unicode”. Save the file with the extension “reg”.
- Back to command line. Enter “REG IMPORT C:\saved_file_name.reg”.
- The “Make Changes?” window appears. Click “Yes”.
After making changes to system registry The program icon will work again. However, the manipulations are not finished yet. Go to the “Window” folder. Find the file “regedit.exe”. We run it as an administrator with protection against unauthorized access disabled.
The Registry Editor will open. Find the key “HKEY_Current_User/Software/Classes/.exe” and delete it. You also need to clear the last partition from the “secfile” key. After cleaning the registry, you need to reboot the system.
Also, if this problem occurs, it is worth checking the system for viruses and, if necessary, performing a rollback.
