Icons have disappeared from the desktop

This behavior usually occurs because the Show Desktop Icons feature is turned off.

If the user upgraded a previous version of Windows to Windows XP, and Show Desktop Icons was turned off in the previous Windows version, this setting is maintained, and user icons appear to be missing from the desktop. The Show Desktop Icons setting is ignored in previous versions of Windows if Active Desktop is turned off. In Windows XP, Active Desktop is always turned on and cannot be disabled.

Windows XP

1. Right-click on the desktop
2. Select Arrange Icons and ensure a check is placed next to Show Desktop Icons
3. Right-click again on the desktop and select Refresh

Windows Vista

1. Right-click on the desktop
2. Select View and ensure a check is placed next to Show Desktop Icons
3. Right-click again on the desktop and select Refresh

By default, the Show Desktop Icons feature is turned on for clean installations of Windows XP, but the Recycle Bin is the only icon that is put on the desktop. If you upgrade a previous version of Windows to Windows XP, all user icons remain on the desktop. By default, the My Computer, My Network Places, Internet Explorer, and My Documents icons are no longer put on the desktop for clean installations or upgrades. To add the My Computer, My Network Places, Internet Explorer, and My Documents icons back to your desktop:

Windows XP

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Properties
2. Select the Desktop tab and select the Customize Desktop button
3. Under Desktop icons, place a check in the box for the icons you want to appear on the desktop.
4. Select OK.

Windows Vista

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Personalize
2. Select Change Desktop Icons
3. Place a check in the box for the icons you want to appear on the desktop