So something weird is happening, and Google can't help me. When I turned on my computer, most of my icons were gone. Not the programs they link to, just the desktop icons. I checked the "show icons" button, but it was already on.

Not even all of the icons, either. Just the shortcuts. I don't understand why this would happen.

Please someone help me.

 

option 1: I know of a virus/malware out there that will set the Hidden attribute on a bunch of files, then make shortcuts to these same files that aren't hidden (possibly to add code to the shortcuts, but I don't think that part of the malware worked).

Think it's called Shylock.

option 2: Similarly, it could be that malware has fired off a 'delete *.lnk' or 'attrib *.lnk +ahrs (for archive, hidden, system and read-only). Try opening the Desktop folder and set the folder view to show hidden and show protected-system files and see if the shortcuts are there.

option 3: your profile was deleted and remade, so stuff applying only to you no longer shows up.

These are just the possibilities that first come to mind.

 

I don't think any of these are it, but I might be wrong. I'm not very savvy.

 

Does it happen every time you start the computer? Try rebooting. Something similar happens to my laptop sometimes, but a reboot cures it.

 

No, it doesn't delete my shortcuts when ever I start the computer. I put a new shortcut on the desktop just to check that. However, it also does not return the deleted shortcuts.

 

What operating system do you have?

Do you use InfraRecorder?

Are the shortcuts still located in the Desktop folder of your profile? Should be c:\users\%your profile%\desktop

 

Windows Vista

Infrarecorder, Wassat?

No.

 

Have you tried creating

 

Have you performed a complete scan of your computer with any Anti-Virus program?

This sounds similar to the initial attack of various Malwares, the specifics of which depends upon if there are more stages of it and what the results of which are.

If its just a OS Glitch, try using the most recent Restore point.

 

avast! says my computer is clean.

 

What happens when you create new shortcuts and then restart your computer. Are the shortcuts still there. Do they disappear?

 

No, they stay.

My biggest problem (assuming I don't have a virus that will kill my computer) is that I don't remember what used to be on my desktop.

 

meh If they stay, what's the problem. Maybe someone other than you used your system and accidentally deleted your shortcuts. Just create new shortcuts when you need to use the applications. If you don't remember the shortcuts, you probably didn't need them anyway.

 

I was mostly just worried that some Mal-ware was about to explode my computer. It doesn't seem to have happened, though.