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Can't see files or desktop icons...malware? [Solved/Closed]

coolrunnings - Jul 11, 2011 at 01:29 PM - Latest reply:  cyrus
- Apr 3, 2018 at 05:32 AM
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Hello,

For some reason I can't see any of my files or desktop icons. I couldn't access task manager for a while so I ran a Malwarebytes scan, removed the 5 threats it found, and can now see task manager but still not any of my files on the C drive or desktop icons.

I'm sure it's some kind of malware as I had a fake "windows warning" (or something like that...) thing pop up a few weeks back that was definitely not legit. How can I fix this?

Thanks!


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53 replies

Report Respond to Joseph.net
Joseph.net 4 Posts Wednesday July 13, 2011Registration date July 13, 2011 Last seen - Jul 13, 2011 at 09:43 PM
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42
Try this way bro..
Right click on ur Desktop > View > Tick on "Show Desktop Icon"

maybe it's work..

Goodluck~
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Report Respond to Tolu
Tolu - Sep 25, 2017 at 06:10 AM
Thank you! This was really helpful.
Report Respond to lol
lol - Nov 10, 2017 at 01:31 PM
Damn thnak you bro
Report Respond to daniel
daniel - Jan 18, 2018 at 04:31 AM
Thank you
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miki - Feb 19, 2018 at 03:35 AM
Thanks! it was very helpful.
Report Respond to cyrus
cyrus - Apr 3, 2018 at 05:32 AM
Thanks it works
Report Respond to Ambucias
Ambucias 50936 Posts Monday February 1, 2010Registration dateModeratorStatus April 12, 2018 Last seen - Jul 12, 2011 at 04:46 AM
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7
Hello Jonathan,

Looking at you log, you system is no longer infected but the desktop was disabled.

First, go to run and type explorer.exe and click ok. It should restore the desktop. If that does not work...

Open your registry editor (run regedit) and search the following key

HKLM\...\policies\Explorer] - "NoActiveDesktop"=1

Change the "1" to 0 and reboot your machine

If the above does not recover the missing icons, you will need to restore the system.

Good luck
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Ambucias 50936 Posts Monday February 1, 2010Registration dateModeratorStatus April 12, 2018 Last seen - Dec 15, 2011 at 05:21 AM
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\windows\currentversion\policies\ActiveDesktop
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sheen - Nov 4, 2012 at 10:04 AM
thnx dude very usefull to me............
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aaa - Nov 4, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Thanks for you information, it fixed my problem.
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orochy - Jan 27, 2015 at 02:46 PM
thank you!!!!!!!!!
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jay - Mar 22, 2015 at 12:32 PM
thank you so much it was helpful
Report Respond to sundar7701
sundar7701 - Jul 13, 2011 at 11:27 PM
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1
you need to unhide files first

run this command as a administrator

Attrib %systemdrive%\*.* /s /d -h

then

Navigate to %temp%\smtmp folder,you should find your startmenu and desktop icons
if u dont find smtmp folder just restore the icons using recuva
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J-son - Mar 10, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Thank you so much!!
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