Share via

Cannot click desktop icons...have to right click on taskbar and click "Show Desktop" before I can click desktop icons...

Anonymous
2009-12-03T15:56:24+00:00

Hi, so I just got a brand new IBM Lenovo Y550 laptop today, with Windows 7 64-bit. Everything works great, except I CAN'T click my desktop icons. I have to right-click on the taskbar, click Show Desktop, and THEN I can click the desktop icons. But then, if I switch to another folder (IE or something), and minimize that folder, I can't click on the icons again. HELP PLEASE? I don't want to have to right-click and hit Show Desktop every time I want to click something...

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
  1. Anonymous
    2009-12-04T05:07:22+00:00

    Hi notsob23,

    Thank you for using Microsoft Windows forum.

    First temporarily disable security software and check. If it works then its your security software/softwares causing the issue.

    Else, try the following and check if it helps.

    1. Hit ctrl+shift+escape to open Task Manager.
    2. On the processes tab , locate explorer.exe and select it,
    3. then click 'end process' .

    This should clear the desktop save the background.

    1. Now move to the applications tab and click on 'new task'.
    2. Type in explorer.exe and click OK to reload the desktop.
    3. Try clicking on some icons and check if it works fine. If so, then you have something

    loading at boot that is interfering with the desktop.

    If the issue persists, check in Clean Boot as there could be some third party software interfering:

    Clean Boot

    To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows Vista by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows 7/Vista

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

    How-to run Windows in Selective Startup (Clean Boot)…

    1.     Click Start, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, click Administrative Tools, and then double-click System Configuration.

    2.     Click Continue, or provide Administrator credentials if prompted.

    3.     Click the General tab, and click Selective startup.

    4.     Under Selective startup uncheck Load startup items.

    5.     Click the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services box, and then click Disable all.

    6.     Click the Apply, then OK, and then Restart.

    Hope it helped

    Azeez Nadeem - Microsoft Support

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments

15 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2010-10-08T02:03:26+00:00

    Hi, yesterday I have a same problem with my desktop and then y laptop today got the same problem also. After I read this forums, and the suggestions, I tried it on my laptop and it really works and I do the same with my desktop computer and it works again (the 1st method). I am really grateful that this solve my problem.

    Thanks for the solutions.

    Xanatos Max.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-20T04:22:56+00:00

    I encountered this problem 2 days ago and it was driving me crazy, basically I've worked on this non-stop, even in my sleep.  After everything suggestd I finally fixed it and correctly!  It was a problem with Microsoft's .NET framework.  I tried repairing it but it still didn't correct the issue, so I uninstalld it and restarted, then everything seemed to work so I reinstalled and reconfigured everything I had changed tryng to fix it, then restarted again and then reinstalled .NET from this location: http://www.microsoft.com/net/download.  After restart everything works great, actually better than before.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-10-11T01:45:54+00:00

    I had the same problem running Windows 7 32 bit. I turned off Internet Explorer 8 and downloaded and installed Firefox version 3.6.10 and the problem ceased. Just to make sure, i uninstalled Firefox and turned Internet Explorer 8 back on and guess what? My desktop froze immediately. I could use my mouse, start menu and everything else. I just couldn't left click or right click on my desktop. I turned IE 8 back off again and reinstalled Firefox and i have not had a problem since.I'm telling you, we have exactly the same problem! Click on Control Panel, then programs and features. In the upper left hand corner you will find Turn Windows features on or off. Click on that, and uncheck the box next to Internet Explorer 8. This won't uninstall it, it will simply turn it off. Click OK and then restart your computer. I'm betting that will take care of your problem. I have a sneaky suspicion that Internet Explorer 9 is nothing more than a fix to this problem.If this doesn't help you, just go back into Programs and features and put the check mark back next to IE 8 and turn it back on. If it does work then try Firefox of another browser until a fix for this problem comes out. Too many people are having the exact same problem.Hope this works for you. It sure did for me. My computer is running like a top.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2010-10-09T14:30:55+00:00

    Hi Xanatos Max,

    Glad to know that your issue has been fixed.

    Cheers!

    Azeez Nadeem - Microsoft Support

    [If this post was helpful, please click the "Vote as Helpful" (green triangle) button. If it helps in resolving your issue, click "Propose As Answer" or "Mark as Answer" button. By proposing/marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.]

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments