"ShowDesktop" icon non-functioning

Hi :)

operating system = Windows XP home edition

My "ShowDesktop" icon has stopped functioning.

To try & repair it, I have tried everything mentioned in this previous thread at ... http://discussions.virtualdr.com/sho...d.php?t=161215

So to summarize ...
I have deleted the old icon.
I have checked the file types area & there is no listing for the SCF extension.
I have run a "fixSCF.reg" file.
I have made a new "Show Desktop.scf" file.

I have placed the SCF file at "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch"
& it does appear in the correct spot at my quick launch bar.

I have used the repairs at <http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm> which are:
- Restore/Add Show Desktop to Quick Launch Bar
- Restore Show Desktop Icons Context Menu.

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This problem happened after a computer crash
which was followed by a hanging startup.
I had to go into safe made in order to get the WINDOWS to start again.
The computer crash happened (while I was using the Firefox browser)
because of a web page script (at a large respected website)
which never ended & thus used up all my computer resources.
I have implement a NoScript addon ... but the same paid subscription
website mentioned will not function fully unless I allow their scrpts.

So far I have noticed 3 problems since the crash &
in case someone can figure out they are related in some way, they are:

#1 non functioning desktop icon

#2 at <My Computer ... View = List ... choose details> only the NAME category is working & I can not get any of the other functions like file size to work (I have not touched NAME, in case doing so will make it stop functioning like the others)

#3 WINDOWS theme has been replaced by XP style from my normally Classic style. (I still cannot get the classic theme to load even though I have tried the fixes at Kellys Korner).

Can anyone suggest anything else to try to make my desktop function properly again ? Or fix any/all 3 probs ?

Thanks for any help & suggestions with this :)

Run chkdsk /r

# Click Start, and then click Run.
# In Open, type cmd, and then press ENTER.
# type chkdsk /r
# hit enter
Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive the following message:
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)
Type Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

You can use the Windows key + D instead of the Show Desktop icon, it does the same thing.

Thanks SuperSparks for that very helpful hint! But I would still like to fix it
if I can to cut down on switching from keyboard to mouse.

Train, if I use chkdsk will I need to have my original Windows disks handy ?
If so, it will take me a while to find them as I haven't used them for a couple of years.

Thanks for the suggestions :)

chkdsk chould not require your Windows CD. System File Checker would however, which might be the next step: sfc /scannow

It is also possible that a corrupt user profile is to blame for your issues.

I ran CHKDSK & it returned "volume is clean".

As a test, you could create another user account and log in to that account to see if the problem is the same on the new user account. That might indicate or rule out a corrupt user profile. After that is is time to locate your Windows XP CD.

I regularly run a registry cleaner. Lately I have been getting one particular error constantly reappearing that does not always get cleaned the first time around. I do not know what the key is for but it is in the "File Association" section. Could this be related ?

File Associations(1 Problems found)
Section: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Application.Reference\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers{90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449}
Reason : This registry key points to the missing CLSID {90AA3A4E-1CBA-4233-B8BB-535773D48449}

It is possible. However, that doesn't really help all that much in determining a fix for the issues.

I have NEVER used the different USER ACCOUNTs before.
But I looked it up online & have now created another one.
I restarted my computer & everything looked very different.

But I made it to the WINDOWS style section & found that
the THEMEs were working fine for the new user.
The ShowDesktop icon was not visible ...
in fact there was no QuickLaunch bar !
So I googled it & now have the QuickLaunch bar with a ShowDesktop icon.
But clicking on ShowDesktop icon still does not work :(

Does this mean that I have 2 problems ?

#1 non functioning ShowDesktop icon
#2 partially corrupted user profile

Is there a way I can fix #2 ? I REALLY hope so because so many of my preferences are all gone in the new user & it would be a lot of work to get everything back to the way I like it.

The non-functioning Show Desktop icon is a separate problem that affects all users. I assume that the Windows Explorer issue from your first post is not present under the new user login.

Your registry cleaner may be responsible for some of the issues. We normally don't recommend using registry cleaners - they can cause more problems than they can fix if you are not careful.

I'd say it is not time to locate your Windows XP CD. If running System File Checker does not correct the issues, it may be time for a repair install.

Before doing that however, it couldn;t hurt to scan for any possible malware.

quote> Windows Explorer issue from your first post is not present under the new user login.

If you mean the <My Computer ... View = List ... choose details> ...
I am still having that problem in the new user.

Thanks for your help :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by picnic

I have checked the file types area & there is no listing for the SCF extension.
I have run a "fixSCF.reg" file.

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Sounds there is no association to .SCF files.
The fixSCF.reg in the other thread is only a small part of the fix.
Try the 'SCF File Association Fix' at http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

HI :)

DeP, the fix you suggested, repaired it immediately & it works fine now!
Thank you so much for your great help !!!

Everyone's input was appreciated ... thanks for helping out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by picnic

I regularly run a registry cleaner.

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Therein lies the cause of most of your woes. Registry cleaners are not necessary, and we have seen countless broken PCs because of them :( I would strongly urge you to stop using one.