johnsimon885

(This is for a windows XP pro machine)Now, before I come off sounding like a complete newbie, let me say that I have been using computers (and this one) for a long time, and I've worked as a computer tech and know everything I should.

At least, I would have been 100% convinced about that until this incident happened. I was using my computer as normal and my keyboard started acting up on the laptop, I think one of the non-letter keys was stuck so the mouse was misbehaving and I couldn't type anything properly. After a little fiddling I got that problem sorted out, but as the computer started up I noticed something important had changed:

"my computer" is no longer on my desktop. It's listed in the desktop folder along with every other icon that is ACTUALLY on my desktop, the settings are making my start menu look like it would in win2k (none of that silly blue bubble look with the important stuff in the start menu), and thus set to have my computer appear on the desktop. Out of curiosity I tried setting it back into the start menu, and I could access it from there, but when I switched it back it was still missing from my desktop.

I can name a file "My Computer" without duplicate name errors (indeed, when I tried to drag it out of explorer it made an alias with that name) so I know it's not just hiding from view somewhere. I can still get inside it from explorer, but this is REALLY bothering me!

Please, anyone, if you know how to help me, I would GREATLY appreciate it. It's very frustrating when you think you know how to make a computer behave and it blows up on you!

johnsimon885

Also, I ran the latest virus definitions through norton, use firefox as my browser, and stay on top of all updates...so at this point I don't think it's virus related, but it could be something sneaky I suppose.

R_R_R

This seems pretty elementary, but if you right click on the "My Computer" icon, in the start menu, there should be an option called "Show on Desktop". Also, you could try going to your display properties, clicking on the 'desktop' tab, then clicking 'Customize Desktop'. You can check the box for "My Computer" to show it on the desktop. Let me know if this works. I can try to help more if it doesn't.

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johnsimon885

...The internet is a wonderful thing. And I'd take my hat off to you, R_R_R, if I weren't about to eat it in shame

That customize desktop thing did the trick (how have I not seen that before?)...how it ever became UNchecked, I'll never know.

Thanks a lot!! You just made my day

-John

mikec

heheh, the funniest part of this thread is that you prefaced it with "I've worked as a computer tech and know everything I should."

I'm thankful that I don't get you on the phone when I call tech support! hehe, j/k dude, gotta break your chops for that one hhehe.

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johnsimon885

Completely understandable. What I might have neglected to mention was that most of the time I deal with macs

R3d

its always the little things we dont think about..

R_R_R

Hahah, glad I could help. And yes R3d....it is always those damn little things....

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