No desktop icons!

So a complete error massage would be a good starting point. Like what is the actual Error Message that you are seeing?

The answers will depend on what you are seeing.

Col

Sounds like the Windows Exployer, (a process to your computer) not to be confused with the Internet Exployer, (a different animal) has been stoped for some reason. (it happens).
Hit the CTRL + ALT + DEL keys at the same time. The 'Windows Security' box should now come up on your screen. Click on the 'Task Manager' button. Now you should see the 'Windows Task Manager' card. Click on the 'Processes' tab. There should be listed there a process labeled 'explorer.exe'. (that's where your icons show up) If it's not there, click on 'File' at the top of the card, and a drop down (list) will give you two choices. Pick 'New Task (Run...)' There you will start the 'explorer.exe' process (program) again. (after 'ok' of course) close out the 'Task Manager' and you should be done. Easy right? -d

If you urgently need to look for desktop icon. Go to restore and restore back to days before. After restore your icon should be there. (but this point is quite dangerous any virus or mistake may cause whole system collap)
Can go to control panel - display - desktop - customize desktop - makesure the "run desktop cleanup option" is not tick.
i think restore back to previous point should be good idea for urgent status.

Right Click anywhere on the desktop ...you will reach Display Properties....
now under the "Desktop Tab"....click "Customize Desktop..."
Now Desktop Items will show up click the "Web Tab"....
Under the web tab....uncheck all the check boxes....including "lock desktop items" and all the pages listed (including hompage)....
This should do it.....
From this on use bmp or jpg or png as you desktop background only...a gif will re-enable the web option and cause the same problem....
so after this change your desktop background.

Restore icons through the registry:
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Saving and then restoring the saved icons layout is all related to registry tweak and adding some system files in c:\windows\system32 folder. But don?t worry if you don?t want play with windows registry or windows system files, you how can you do this just by using a FREE utlity called Icon Restore.

We will also include the geeky way which will tell you how can you do this through registry editing and adding some system files.

Let?s discuss both the ways to save / restore desktop icons layout.

Simple Method To Save/Restore Desktop Icons Layout (Layman Way)

1. Download this utlity called Icon Restore from here:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/iconrestore.html
which adds a context menu under right click on my computer to save/restore the icon layout.

2. Install Icon Restore and then right click my computer icon to see the entries in the context menu.

Read more: http://www.technixupdate.com/save-restore-desktop-layout/#ixzz0FDHsJLUj&B

Save Desktop Icon Layout

Restore Desktop Icon Layout

3. By right clicking the computer icon and select Save Desktop Icon Layout to save the desktop icons positions for the current desktop resolutions.

4. Now when ever you change the desktop resolution the desktop icons positions get changed you get the same positions of the icons by again right clicking on my computer and select Restore Desktop Icon Layout

Some another utility which do the same thing as Icon Restore are Solway?s Desktop Icon Layout Saver and DesktopOK (which let you save and restore multiple layouts).

Geeky Method To Save/Restore Desktop Icons Layout ( via HowToGeek )

1. Download and Extract Layout.zip, now copy the Layout.dll into your C:\Windows\System32\ directory.

2. Now double click on the Layout.reg file which will add contents to the registry, press or ok or merge to confirm registry additions.

3. Now When you right click on your computer you will see the entries in the context menu which says

Save Desktop Icon Layout

Restore Desktop Icon Layout

4. Now when ever you want to restore the original desktop layout and saved icon positions right click on the empty desktop and select Restore Desktop Icon Layout

Uninstall Desktop Icon Layout

If you want to uninstall desktop layout, download uninstall desktop layout from here, extract it and double click on the registry file and make sure to delete layout.dll from C:\Windows\System32

Read more: http://www.technixupdate.com/save-restore-desktop-layout/#ixzz0FDIcu6U6&B