no desktop icons

Are you sure you have files/icons on the desktop?

If your right-click on the desktop and go into the "Arange Icons By" menu, you should see an option that says "Show Desktop Icons." This should be checked for icons to appear on the screen. If it is not checked, select it.

I am guessing that you are not on a network or windows domain?

1) go to your desktop
2)right click your desktop
3)click "Arange Icons By"
4)click "show Icons"
5)last step is to change your background.

Hope that helps