Shortcuts disappear

[Inyo Tim]

I'm running Windows XP Home and all the shortcuts have disappeared from my desktop. It happened about the time one of my cats unplugged my router. Everything else works fine and I can find the shortcuts by clicking on them at the documents display page. Any idea how to get them back on the desktop?

[Pierre!]

Have you scanned your system with AntiVirus and AntiMalware software from SAFE MODE?

If NOT, it could not hurt.

Never heard of this occurring because another piece of network equipment was temporarily *off*...

Almost 'smells' Viral in nature, but then again I am a bit gun shy with a client viral infection over the weekend... :rofl:

Seriously, let us know that your scans come out clean... or NOT...

Patrick

[gemeinschaft]

Are all of your documents intact or are they missing too?

I have seen on a couple rare occasions, where the user's profile was corrupt and simply re-creating the profile and transferring their data to the new profile fixed it.

YMMV

[Inyo Tim]

I've never done a scan from the safe mode. I'm going to have to read up on how to do it. A regular virus scan with Norton won't catch it?

[Pierre!]

Hello Inyo Tim,

SAFE MODE makes a difference! Virus/Malware/Trojan/Worms will hide 'behind' valid windows files and won't be detected. They have been using 'stealth' technologies since 1998 or so...

When the computer is starting up, tap the <F8> key about every 1/2 second - you will know you did it right when the black screen with white text shows up.

The top selection will be SAFE MODE
Next selection is SAFE MODE w/ Networking

We use SAFE MODE w/ Networking to update the signature files so that the detection of viruses is as effective as it can be. You can do scans in SAFE MODE w/ Networking and if you turn up clean, you are good to go!

It's when you discover malware/viruses that you may need to get to SAFE MODE without networking...

So get to the SAFE MODE screen, select SAFE MODE w/ Networking, update your Norton, then scan away.

Another product we like is MalwareBytes which you can download the FREE version from http://MalwareBytes.org. It offers slightly different methods of scanning and is very effective.

When you scan(s) come up clean, it may be exactly what Gemeinschaft has suggested - the corrupted user profile.

Please let us know how the scans turn out!

[Inyo Tim]

Thanks folks. I got the updates for my Norton this morning and I'm restarting in safe mode. This could be tied in to an attack I thought I stopped in time the other day. A friends email address has been hijacked and I clicked on a link of an email I thought he sent. I saw immediately that it was one of those sites that loads a virus or trojan (This is important. Wait a minute.) and then you have to pay them to get rid of it. I killed the power on my computer and thought I had prevented it from loading. I'll let you know what I find.

[The Expert]

I don't think this has anything to do with a virus. I don't have XP anymore, but my father-in-law does and when I was down there recently I couldn't find any temporary anything that I was putting on the desktop. Shortcuts, files...anything.

A bunch of right clicking on the desktop and searching through various options showed that he had set the whole thing to show no icons on the desktop. I checked the "Show Items on Desktop" box and everything showed up.

A little digging might find something similar.

[grokdesigns]

I don't think this has anything to do with a virus. I don't have XP anymore, but my father-in-law does and when I was down there recently I couldn't find any temporary anything that I was putting on the desktop. Shortcuts, files...anything.

A bunch of right clicking on the desktop and searching through various options showed that he had set the whole thing to show no icons on the desktop. I checked the "Show Items on Desktop" box and everything showed up.

A little digging might find something similar.
This would be my guess as well. This option is still present up to Windows 7 and does exactly what the OP is describing.

[Inyo Tim]

I just did a full scan with Norton in the safe mode. All it found was 45 tracking cookies. My computer is still not acting right. I just got a "Runtime error" displayed when coming back online in the normal way. I'll search for this option on shortcut display some more. I've looked in quite a few places for it. I haven't been able to find it. I'll also update Malware Bites and run that in the safe mode. Thanks for all hints and help.

[Inyo Tim]

I ran MalwareBytes in safe mode and came up clean. I did a search on the problem and came up with someone accidently dragging the "show shortcuts" icon out of the quick launch bar at the bottom of the screen up to the desktop. I didn't know there was such a thing. I might have done that. I'm not sure if this is the same problem or not though. I followed the directions to restore it and had no luck. Another method involves logging on as administrator and copying the file. It's problems like this that make me realize how little I know about computers.

[gemeinschaft]

I would log in as Administrator and then go look in your profile for the Desktop files to see if anything is still there.

Most Likely "C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\desktop

Can you give a list of the Folders located at C:\Documents and Settings\ That will help determine if something has happened with a profile.

Another thing that you may want to try is checking the Trash Bin to see if somehow your Desktop files got deleted....

Let me know what is listed in the the Docs and Settings and we can go from there.

[Inyo Tim]

I just did a search for "C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\desktop" and "Show Desktop" and "Start Desktop" appeared. Clicking on show desktop takes me to the blank desktop with no shortcuts. Start Desktop is part of the instructional program to explain the workings of the computer. I did this without logging on as administrator. I can only do this in safe mode. I'll try that next.

[Inyo Tim]

I found the fix online and it was simple. Right click anywhere on the desktop display. Click on "arrange icons by" and then on the list is "show desktop icons". It had somehow become unchecked.

[gemeinschaft]

I found the fix online and it was simple. Right click anywhere on the desktop display. Click on "arrange icons by" and then on the list is "show desktop icons". It had somehow become unchecked.

I can honestly say that I have never seen this one before. Thanks for letting us know so we can make mental notes in case any of us run across this again.

[Inyo Tim]

I think I know how it happened. I have young kittens in the house that like to play on my laptop if I set it down and leave the room. They probably somehow hit the right sequence of keys.

[Pierre!]

Ahhh... the Infamous "Kitten Virus"...

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

I always love it when that happens... You happen to notice them looking, pointing, and snikering at you???

You need 'Cat Handcuffs' bruthah!

Glad it worked out, and you *know* your system is clean... but not too clean... if it was *squeeky* clean you would have more problems soon...

:supergrin:

[gemeinschaft]

I think I know how it happened. I have young kittens in the house that like to play on my laptop if I set it down and leave the room. They probably somehow hit the right sequence of keys.

Cats like a warm place to rest, laptop keyboards seem to fit the bill nicely, but the minute one of them has an unplanned ejection of hairball with what follows, you may find a heating pad set on a very low setting suits them just fine.

If your cat likes to perch up high on things, the higher you set that heated surface, the happier they are.

I am not a cat person, but after a cat ruined the laptop of one of the principals of our company at their home, I had to come up with a solution.... ???

So that is what worked. YMMV:whistling:

[Detectorist]

I can honestly say that I have never seen this one before. Thanks for letting us know so we can make mental notes in case any of us run across this again.

That's a common trick we played on each other's computers when a tech would leave his unsecured. Many would freak out. lol