Windows 10: All icons or apps disappeared in windows 11 pc and can’t open taskbar apps they can run but...

Randomly, the apps in my desktop all disappeared but only the taskbar apps remain. When I tried opening them, it doesn’t actually open but runs in the background. The only app I can access is the file explorer and nothing else. I’ve entered windows recovery mode and attempted to run disk checks but there was no change whatsoever. All my files and apps are still located in the file explorer. Also, my wallpaper engine still works. And yes, I have show desktop icons on. Another thing worth noting is that I can’t open registry editor, command prompt, settings or even create a new user.

:)

 

Modern UI Apps all show "This PC" icon on taskbar

Whenever I open an app that is in the list of Modern UI Applications, its taskbar icon uses the This PC icon, not the correct icon for the app.

For example the two rightmost icons in this screenshot are actually open windows for Notepad and Spotify.





My Windows 11 does display the correct icon on the app window, on taskbar popup thumbnails and in the system tray. If I pin a Modern UI app to the taskbar, it shows the correct icon. BUT when I open the app, a second icon appears on the taskbar for the app's window and this second icon is, you've guessed it, the This PC icon.

I have tried the usual remedies like restarting Explorer, rebooting the PC and pinning and unpinning apps but none have cured the behaviour. Could this be a corrupted registry setting, and if so does anyone know where to find it and what the defaults are?

 

All icon images have disappeared, and can't open app properties


I have tried step 1 and 2- they made no difference.
Step 3- found corrupt files but unable to repair
I did the restore health command and got this result:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth


Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.10586.0


Image Version: 10.0.10586.0


[==========================100.0%==========================]


Error: 0x800f081f


The source files could not be found.
Use the "Source" option to specify the location of the files that are required to restore the feature. For more information on specifying a source location, see Configure a Windows Repair Source.


The DISM log file can be found at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log


C:\WINDOWS\system32>
C:\WINDOWS\system32>

 

Windows 11 jump list icons disappear when there's an open window behind them

Jump lists are great, a real help for productivity. But I've found recently that a jump list with a window open behind it just disappears -- there's no way to select a window icon from the jump list, unless I close or minimise the window that's behind it. Rather spoils the productivity.

Here's what I've tested.

• A jump list for an application with no window open: right-click on the taskbar, list appears, no problem.
  
• Jump list with one or more windows open, and no window open behind the icons: whether I click on the app icon in the taskbar first, or just hover the mouse over the app icon, I can select a jump list window icon, no problem.
  
• Jump list for Word, with several jump-list icons open, and a Word document window open behind the icons: that works as I expect. I can choose one of the jump-list icons to select that document.
  
• Jump list for any other app, with a window behind it for a different application: I can see the jump list when the cursor is over the task bar, but when I try to select it, the icon disappears. I can't select it without minimising or closing the open window.
  

Has anyone else found this problem?

Is there a setting or registry fix that will make jump lists work in all cases (as they used to in Windows 10, as far as I remember).

I have Windows 11 Pr version 21H2, OS build 22000.1098, and Office 365 version 2210 build 15726.20202 click to run. I think this problem has been present for a while.

I have the taskbar setting Group similar windows enabled (this is the default in Windows 11), Mouse > Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them is disabled, and focus follows mouse is enabled, with a registry setting. I've used these settings since well before Windows 11.

A little image might help:





...this shows some of my taskbar, with the Outlook icon selected, and another application window right behind it. See how the Outlook window icon is positioned above the taskbar: I can't slide the cursor directly onto it. When I try, by any means, to select the Outlook window icon, it just vanishes and the application behind it takes focus.

I really like focus follows mouse -- don't want to change that

Thanks for reading, hope someone can help!