Desktop Items hidden, cant restore them 1

[niallo32]

I have an XP SP2 Pro PC.

Under Display Properties, I checked a setting to hide all desktop Items and now cant restore it to it's previous setting.

All fixes I've googled dont work. There are no viruses or Spyware running on pc.

I can access the Desktop Items through Windows Explorer, but when I right click the Desktop, which normally access properties, nothing happens

Can anyone help?

Thanks

 

[stduc]

Can you go back to a restore point?

 

[bcastner]

Copy/paste the below and insert into a notepad session. The file must be saved with a ".reg" extension so be careful in notepad when saving. Call the file: fix_desktop.reg [/'b]

-------- begin copy/paste below this line
REGEDIT4
; remove no destop setting
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDesktop"=DWORD:00000000


--------- end copy/paste above this line

I assume you are doing this on another machine, and saving to a floppy.

From the affected machine, Ctrl-Alt-Del to bring up Task Manager. File, New Task (Run), and enter:
regedit /s a:fix_desktop.reg

File, New Task (Run), and enter:
explorer.exe

 

[niallo32]

Thanks - I created the .reg file and copied as per above.

I said that the info had been added to the registry, but it made no diferrence to the desktop settings, I called explorer from the run Prompt - no difference

I then browsed to the Registry key that should have been added, but it's not there - any ideas??

 

[bcastner]

If you feel comfortable using regedit, add the key by hand:

Navigate to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Right click on the right panel, New, DWORD value.
Name the key: NoDesktop

If will assume a zero value by default.

Reboot.

 

[stduc]

If you can manage regedit then you can add the key manually.

But if you have a restore point you can go back to I would.

The whole key is


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:00000091
"NoActiveDesktop"=dword:00000000
"ClassicShell"=dword:00000000
"ForceActiveDesktopOn"=dword:00000000


BTW

I'm not sure what
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:00000091
does!

But it does appear to be noactivedesktop - not nodesktop?

But I am not an expert.

 

[niallo32]

Thanks for the help guys.

I added in the first key, rebooted - no difference

I then edited the key with the differences from stduc, rebooted - still no icons!

I've ran all sorts of Anti-Spyware and my AV is up to date, nothing strange running under Task Mgr either

Whats going on!!

 

[bcastner]

NoDriveTypeAutoRun is a mask to determine what drives will have enabled or disabled autorun features. For example, a hexidecimal value of 0xb5 disables CD Rom Autorun.

Let me add on other note, the entries under the \Polcies\Explorer key can get very long depending on Group Policy and GUI interface settings.

Mine at the moment look like this:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDriveTypeAutoRun"=dword:00000091
"NoThemesTab"=dword:00000000
"NoChangeKeyboardNavigationIndicators"=dword:00000000
"NoChangeAnimation"=dword:00000000
"NoAddPrinter"=dword:00000000
"NoDeletePrinter"=dword:00000000
"NoPrinters"=dword:00000000
"NoViewOnDrive"=dword:00000000
"RestrictRun"=dword:00000000
"NoDesktop"=dword:00000000
"ClassicShell"=dword:00000000
"NoControlPanel"=dword:00000000
"ForceClassicControlPanel"=dword:00000000
"NoFavoritesMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoSMMyDocs"=dword:00000000
"NoSMMyPictures"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuMyMusic"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuNetworkPlaces"=dword:00000000
"NoNetworkConnections"=dword:00000000
"NoFolderOptions"=dword:00000000
"NoRecentDocsHistory"=hex:01,00,00,00
"ForceStartMenuLogoff"=dword:00000000
"NoSimpleStartMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoViewContextMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoTrayContextMenu"=dword:00000000
"ClearRecentDocsOnExit"=dword:00000001
"NoWinKeys"=dword:00000000
"EnforceShellExtensionSecurity"=dword:00000000
"NoDFSTab"=dword:00000000
"NoHardwareTab"=dword:00000000
"NoPropertiesMyComputer"=dword:00000000
"NoFileAssociate"=dword:00000000
"NoTrayItemsDisplay"=dword:00000000
"NoToolbarsOnTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"LockTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"HideClock"=dword:00000000
"DisablePersonalDirChange"=dword:00000000
"DisableMyPicturesDirChange"=dword:00000000
"DisableMyMusicDirChange"=dword:00000000
"DisableFavoritesDirChange"=dword:00000000
"NoInternetIcon"=dword:00000000
"NoBandCustomize"=dword:00000000
"NoInstrumentation"=dword:00000000
"NoExpandedNewMenu"=dword:00000000
"NoNetHood"=dword:00000000
"NoNetConnectDisconnect"=dword:00000000
"NoComputersNearMe"=dword:00000000
"NoRecentDocsNetHood"=hex:01,00,00,00
"NoDriveAutoRun"=dword:00000000
"NoLogOff"=dword:00000000
"NoRunasInstallPrompt"=dword:00000000
"PromptRunasInstallNetPath"=dword:00000000
"NoCDBurning"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList"=dword:00000000
"NoStartMenuEjectPC"=dword:00000001
"NoActiveDesktop"=dword:00000000
"ForceActiveDesktopOn"=dword:00000001
"NoClose"=dword:00000000

 

[stduc]

niallo32 - I'm confused.

1. A restore point is the easiest way out of this mess. Or don't you have one?

2. What on earth did you click on - I can find no 'hide all desktop Items' on my desktop properties.

 

[bcastner]

Hide and disable all items on the desktop

User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Desktop
Hide and disable all items on the desktop

 

[niallo32]

I deleted the Restore points as part of a disk cleanup - my bad

I Rc'd the desktop, Arrange icons by and then selected 'hide my desktop icons' - unfortunatly I cant get back there to select 'Show my desktop icons'

I checked Group Policy as per above - User Configuration
Administrative Templates
Desktop
Hide and disable all items on the desktop

This policy is disabled

Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartMenu

This has a key of 'ab default' type REG_SZ and under Data - Value is not set

 

[bcastner]

Thank you, that helped a lot in terms of clues.

New .reg file

------- start copy/paste
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoActiveDesktop"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoSaveSettings"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"ClassicShell"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]
ShellState"=hex:24,00,00,00,33,80,01,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
01,00,00,00,0d,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00


---------------- end copy/paste

The process is just like I asked for earlier. Use Task Manager to execute regedit and this .reg file
Reboot and test.


If No Joy, Step Two

----------- begin copy/paste
'Enable or Disable Desktop Icons
'Idea from Kelly Theriot

Message = "To work correctly, the script will close" & vbCR
Message = Message & "and restart the Windows Explorer shell." & vbCR
Message = Message & "This will not harm your system." & vbCR & vbCR
Message = Message & "Continue?"

X = MsgBox(Message, vbYesNo, "Notice")

If X = 6 Then

On Error Resume Next

Dim WSHShell, n, MyBox, p, t, errnum, vers
Dim itemtype
Dim enab, disab, jobfunc

Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
p = "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop"

itemtype = "REG_DWORD"

enab = "ENABLED"
disab = "DISABLED"
jobfunc = "Desktop Icons are now "

t = "Confirmation"
Err.Clear
n = WSHShell.RegRead (p)
errnum = Err.Number

if errnum <> 0 then

WSHShell.RegWrite p, 0, itemtype
End If


If n = 0 Then
n = 1
WSHShell.RegWrite p, n, itemtype
Mybox = MsgBox(jobfunc & disab & vbCR, 4096, t)
ElseIf n = 1 then
n = 0
WSHShell.RegWrite p, n, itemtype
Mybox = MsgBox(jobfunc & enab & vbCR, 4096, t)
End If


Set WshShell = Nothing

On Error GoTo 0

For Each Process in GetObject("winmgmts:"). _
ExecQuery ("select * from Win32_Process where name='explorer.exe'")
Process.terminate(0)
Next

MsgBox "Finished." & vbcr & vbcr , 4096, "Done"

Else

MsgBox "No changes were made to your system." & vbcr & vbcr, 4096, "User Cancelled"

End If

----------- end copy/paste

Save this file in notepad as fix_icons.vbs

From taskmanager, file, New Task (Run):
wscript fix_icons.vbs

Reboot and test.

Best wishes,
Bill Castner

 

[niallo32]

I tried both of them Bill, with a reboot in between - no joy!

I dont know what to try next

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Is there another account on that PC that you can use..Do the Icons show for that profile?

( I assume this is a stand-alone machine and not part of a Domain..otherwise there might be a Domain policy that has gotten hosed..)







To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[niallo32]

I logged on to the Local Administrator account and the Desktop Items were there fine. I was able to rc the desktop and select 'Arrange Icons by - Show desktop items/hide desktop items'

The account I have the problem with is a Domain admin account, I dont think it's a Domain policy, as it occured ever since I changed that setting

 

[bcastner]

Try #3:

------ begin copy/paste for show_icons.reg
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoDesktop"=dword:00000000
"NoActiveDesktopChanges"=dword:00000000
"NoActiveDesktop"=dword:00000000
"ForceActiveDesktopOn"=dword:00000001
"NoToolbarsOnTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"NoTrayItemsDisplay"=dword:00000000
"NoToolbarsOnTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"LockTaskbar"=dword:00000000
"HideClock"=dword:00000000

-------- end copy/paste

Do as before to merge with your registry.
Reboot.
If necessary, then right-click the Desktop, Arrange icons, and click Show Desktop.

Best wishes,
Bill Castner

 

[niallo32]

Still no joy - tearing my hair out!

 

[bcastner]

If you Windows key + D
Does the Desktop appear?

 

[niallo32]

It does indeed.

 

[bcastner]

If it does, can you then revert your problematic setting?