My Desktop isn't showing when I turn on my computer. Why?

15 years ago

Hi,

For some unknown reason my desktop isn't showing up when I turn on my computer. I am on broadband and I couldn't get online and Charter got me online. All I get for the desktop is a white page with three gray Vertical lines on the side.

Everything else is working normally. Any Ideas? I really appreciate the help. I have WinXPSP2 Using Windows. I hope that I will be able to get back on here to see your post.

Again thanks so much.

thirdfrt!!!

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Comments (24)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
My suggestion would be to try a quick system restore to before this happened to restore your settings, it is simple and fast and fully reversible.

System restore
thirdfrt
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you ravencajun,

I will definately do that. I have been running spybot and AdAware and Superantispyware before I do this. I want to make sure I have no spyware. I will let you know if the restore works. I sure hope that it does.

Again Thanks,

thirdfrt!!!
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daylilydayzed
15 years ago
Sounds like the graphic card may be going bad. Or if it is not a graphics card, it is the graphics part of the motherboard going bad.
thirdfrt
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi daylilydayzed,

I am wondering about that. I tried a system restore and it won't restore. It tells me that it is unable to do a restore.

I called my ISP and everything there is fine and he seems to think that it can be fixed by Microsoft. I am really doubting that one. Everything else works fine only I can't get the Desktop.

I may have to take this in on Monday and have them check it over because I don't know how to put parts in etc. I just use the computer I can't fix hardware and stuff. That part will have to be left up to the pros. Do you think this is something that Microsoft could fix?

thirdfrt!!!
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
are you able to view sites like youtube and picture intensive sites ok? can you view your pics on your pc? can you view cd's? try running it through the paces that would give those aspects a work out. I would also get belarc advisor and see if it shows anything strange.
Have you gone to your event viewer and looked for any errors? Start> control panel> administrator tools> event viewer there you will see options for system and applications click on each of those to view their logs look for red flags or yellow ones, double click on those to read the info and error id numbers which you can look up on google.

it said it could not do a system restore did it give a reason? how much free space do you have on your drive?
Belarc
I would also try running this free program it often finds things the others don't
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. The log can also be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

When you right click on your desktop do you get the properties options to view what your settings are?
thirdfrt
Original Author
15 years ago
OK, I have my backround back on my desktop. Somehow that was changed to Internet Explorer Wallpaper. The only thing is now I don't know how to get my Icons back.

thirdfrt!!!
thirdfrt
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow Zep516 I never even thought of that. I thought it was kind of odd that it didn't work. I am going to have to print your instructions out in order for me to follow them correctly.

Thanks for posting this for me. I really appreciate it and it needs to be looked in to. Now that I have the other problem fixed I am going to check out the system restore. I will let you know how it goes.

Now to ravencajun, daylily, cboy and to Zep516. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. You have made my day. "Smiles" You all had some wonderful information for me and I really appreciate it. Sometimes it is just a simple fix like in this case but I know that there are other things that can happen like you all mentioned here and believe me you had me thinking and I am going to save this information in case I am ever faced with something like this again. It could have been a lot worse but I am dancing next to my computer with joy because it is fixed. "LOL" Thanks again, I am turning on my printer now.

thirdfrt!!!
cboy
15 years ago
Right click your empty Desktop
Arrange Icons by ...
Show Desktop Icons
thirdfrt
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Zep516 it is done. I followed your instructions to the t. "Smiles"

thirdfrt!!!
zep516
15 years ago
I would address the restore issue here, try the exercise below this will not fix the Icon issue but you need to get System restore working again.....

System restore may have become corrupted.

Clear restore points.
To turn off system restore> right click on My Computer>Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
Turn off System Restore.
Apply.
Click OK.

Restart your Pc >back to System Restore.
Create a restore point.

Create a new restore point, click on Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools.
System Restore.

System Restore wizard>Create a restore point and click the Next button.

Name a new restore point.
Click on Create.
owbist
15 years ago
Now you have it all sorted out...........

You can remove those ugly icons from the screen and keep them down near the clock instead. This allows you to access them when you have a window open and also allows you to enjoy your wallpaper.

Right click on the taskbar at the bottom, unlock the Taskbar if locked then click on Toolbars/Desktop. Now the word 'Desktop' shows near the clock with 2 small chevrons, click on those and all your icons appear in a pop up and you desktop is totally clear of icons.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
excellent job thirdfrt!! you managed to get it all sorted out and fixed, that is the kind of response I love to hear!
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
15 years ago
Um, Owbist...loved your idea to remove icons from my desktop, so followed your instructions and created that lovely little pop-up button, which works a treat.
Trouble is, I still have the original icons cluttering up my desktop!
Please tell me how to remove them!

Regards,
Shax
bob414
15 years ago
Drag them to the recycle bin or right click and delete.
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
15 years ago
Thanks, Bob, will do...did think of that, but worried that doing so would also delete them from my pop-up, forcing me to have to replace them one by one!

Regards,
Shax
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
15 years ago
Actually, dragging them to recycle bin DOES delete them from the pop-up list too!
Gawd...
owbist
15 years ago
If you right click on the desktop then remove the check mark beside 'Show desktop icons' you will be safe. Sorry, I overlooked mentioning that bit (blushes wildly)
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
15 years ago
Nah...right click doesn't give me that option (W2K, doncha know!)
Guess I'll learn to live with it!

Regards,
Shax
thirdfrt
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow, there is a lot of good information here. Glad I posted with my problem, now I have something new to try out. Thanks owbist.

ravencajun, thanks for the compliment but I only had the first half of it figured out and cboy came to the rescue and helped me with the last half of it. I can't take all the credit. "Smiles"

Then zep516 came in catching the fact that System Restore wasn't working right and gave me great information on how to correct that.

This was the first time that I've had problems with my desktop, but I have changed the backround on it before and I remembered that and I thought why not check it out and see if I could get it to change and that is when I discovered that the backround had been changed and all I had to do was to put it back like I had it, but then I didn't know how to get the icons back and that's when cboy posted the solution for me. If that ever happens to me again I will know exactly what to do.

Thanks owbist for telling me how to move the icons down to the taskbar. I will try that on Wednesday, I will have more time to try it out then.

thirdfrt!!!
camp56
15 years ago
Shax, it's right click on Desktop, then select View and the option to show Icons is there.
camp56
15 years ago
Shax, I should have noted the above directions are for Vista. It may be different for XP, possibly like this,

1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Point to Arrange Icons By.
3. Click Show Desktop Icons.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
Shax has windows 2K so his directions will be specific to that version of windows and I know nothing about 2K, but often it is similar to XP.

Hi Shax!!
camp56
15 years ago
Been a long time since I've seen Windows 2K, so I don't have a clue about that either, sorry Shax.
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
15 years ago
I guess that if this is the biggest problem I have in my life, everything is hunky-dory!
And what's wrong with W2K??? I figure they've just about got it right after 8 years...only difference is I have to pedal a bit faster than you guys!

And hiya right back at ya, R-C...you're looking terrific!

Regards,
Shax

My Desktop isn't showing when I turn on my computer. Why?

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