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Tried to change desktop but just hangs?

I run Windows 7 on my desktop and tried to personalize the background to the theme of Winter Lights. It just hung and after a while I used ctrl-alt-del but to no avail. Tried this a few times and ended Task and also Process. All my program icons disappeared! I got to e-mail and now internet explorer by using the 'change task' option (got to internet via an email advert),
Normally I would turn off the computer via the button and reboot, but this has been problematic lately - not always starting windows unless I do a system restore.
I shall have to do this soon, but wondered if the desktop being temperamental was a common problem. Also am I missing some way of getting icons back on screen.
The desktop stopped hanging - just no icons nor trays showing along the bottom. Oh and right clicking now on the desktop has no effect and does not bring up a menu.

Comments

  • Mista_C
    Mista_C Posts: 2,202 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    To avoid restarting press CTRL + ALT + DEL and go to Task Manager. Under the Applications tab you will see a button "New Task", click it and type Explorer then OK. This should get your icons back up for you.

    It sounds like you have further issues and the first thing I would suggest is running CHKDSK to check for file system/hard drive errors.
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