can't move desktop icons

stashmycash

All of a sudden I can no longer move my desktop icons around, or get rid of them in the bin.
Any ideas what might have caused this and how I can resolve it.
Thanks.

TonyLisaP

Can you click on the icons at all?

I once played a trick on a colleague where I took a snapshot of his desktop and set it as his wallpaper, then I hid his icons and his start menu and watched him click around for hours. Great fun.

stashmycash

TonyLisaP wrote: »

Can you click on the icons at all?

I once played a trick on a colleague where I took a snapshot of his desktop and set it as his wallpaper, then I hid his icons and his start menu and watched him click around for hours. Great fun.

I can click on them and they take me where they are supposed to but I just can't move them around the desk top sreen anymore.

Cricri

Right click desktop, select "Arrange Icons" and untick "Auto arrange".
If that's it, it shouldn't prevent you from sending them to the bin though...

stashmycash

Cricri wrote: »

Right click desktop, select "Arrange Icons" and untick "Auto arrange".
If that's it, it shouldn't prevent you from sending them to the bin though...

Tried this but it didn't work. Thanks anyway.

Cricri

Meh, how about this:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q137069

*EDIT* Nevermind, it only seems to suggest unticking "Auto arrange" as well

How about that:

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11184-0.html?forumID=39&threadID=170571&messageID=2290602

These 2 guys had this problem because their mouse middle button was stuck

stashmycash

Cricri wrote: »

Meh, how about this:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q137069

*EDIT* Nevermind, it only seems to suggest unticking "Auto arrange" as well

How about that:

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11184-0.html?forumID=39&threadID=170571&messageID=2290602

These 2 guys had this problem because their mouse middle button was stuck

Thanks . Still no luck.

sho_me_da_money

When did this start happening? And what happens when you try to empty the recycle bin? - Do you get any error messages?

I recommend you go back to an early restore point.

Could be anything - spyware/malware/adware/settings - either spend hours trying to fix it or take 2 mins and restore to a working point.



Ciao

stashmycash

sho_me_da_money wrote: »

When did this start happening? And what happens when you try to empty the recycle bin? - Do you get any error messages?

I recommend you go back to an early restore point.

Could be anything - spyware/malware/adware/settings - either spend hours trying to fix it or take 2 mins and restore to a working point.



Ciao

Thanks

It happened about 4 weeks ago, so I don't fancy inputting loads of data again.

I emptied the bin and there were no error messages.

sho_me_da_money

Instead of inputting loads of data again, back the data/files to a USB pen, do a system restore and finally restore the docs from the pen drive.

Might take a little longer than 2 mins - maybe 5 mins?

Im assuming the programs that are installed on the PC now are the same that were on the system 4 weeks ago?

You've done all the right things to resolve what the potential cause was (desktop menu) so i think you should opt for a restore.

Might be worth doing a few scans for any malware. But itll take longer than 5 mins.

stashmycash

sho_me_da_money wrote: »

Instead of inputting loads of data again, back the data/files to a USB pen, do a system restore and finally restore the docs from the pen drive.

Might take a little longer than 2 mins - maybe 5 mins?

Im assuming the programs that are installed on the PC now are the same that were on the system 4 weeks ago?

You've done all the right things to resolve what the potential cause was (desktop menu) so i think you should opt for a restore.

Might be worth doing a few scans for any malware. But itll take longer than 5 mins.

Hadn't thought of that . Silly me.