Windows 10: Desktop background is only displayed and nothing else

Hello all,

I am having a problem with windows. I was recently having some problems with widows 10 so I had the bright idea to Rest my PC using the options in the settings. I then chose to "Keep my files" as I have documents that I would like not to be deleted. So I let this run and nothing out of the ordinary occurred and everything seemed to be going well. Eventually the OS boots up and I get just the the windows 10 background (the one with 4 blue windows tiles). I see this and nothing else. No windows button, no desktop apps, and my keyboard does nothing, ie no ctrl+alt+del does anything. All I have displayed is my internet connection and the ease of access button. I do have a cursor though, but it is useless as right clicking or left clicking does nothing. I have no idea what to do from here. I have had windows 10 for about 4 months and I've never had any major problems. Any help you guys can give I will be eternally grateful.

Thanks in advance for the help!

:)

 

Desktop Issues - only one window at a time is visible

I have the same problem. However, my issue did not occur right after the Windows 10 install, but a couple of weeks later after a forced shutdown due to a hung system. Desktop shortcuts are accessible by displaying the "show desktop" option on the task
bar settings, but I do not have access to my desktop otherwise, though I see the background image. Every program I run runs on full screen mode and does not allow for resizing or tiling of windows. Also, Task Manager
only displays the names of applications running and nothing else! Seems like entire Windows installation has gotten corrupted!!

 

Desktop display shows background only

Hello,

I LOVE my Surface Pro 3!! Lately, however it has been asking strangely. Icons are no longer visible on my desktop. Swiping in from the left causes the icons to appear for a microsecond then they disappear.

I can still access all of my desktop applications from the desktop folder that is pinned to the task bar but I am concerned about not being able to see/use the icons directly.

There are no error messages on display.

 

Here's a image of the problem for further clarification

 

Did you mean refresh you tried, because reset would loose everything ? Could try an repair inplace upgrade.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade


Always keep backups of important files and not trust they will not be lost, keep them on a external drive. When upgrading to a new OS you should then check for updates for system and hardware drivers for your specific PC from manufactuer's web site.

 

Recovery options in Windows 10 - Windows Help


I did the reset your PC option

 

Well it seems like this problem just fixed itself. I now have my stuff back to almost normal. The desktop now has the app and now my keyboard, ect. works. Is it possible to restore to a previous restore point or is that too late now that I have rest my pc?

 

How long was it since you did this reset ? Restore points are gone too late for that now as they were wiped in that process.
Say apps and keyboard, what about taskbar, notification area and is start menu working properly too now ?
If you had Windows 10 for months now there is no going back to older OS unless you have recovery discs or actual Windows install media disc. Ever think of a clean install if things do not solve themselves ?

Try this at a Admin command prompt copy and paste press enter, let it finish
sfc /scannow

Same open command prompt copy and paste this press enter ,let it finish
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Reboot after.

Possible system did not get updated through windows update, finished yet.

 

I did the reset process not even an 1hr ago. I didn't lose any file that were important. I just lost the applications to open them such as word, power pt., etc. So its not necessary if I cant get those back I just didn't want to have re-download all those applications again. I will preform the cmds you gave me as it randomly fixing itself makes me suspicious that something is still wrong with the OS.

 

Yes i knew you lost all your added third party software. Since had this for 4 months might think of doing a clean install of Windows 10 at this point now may solve issues if it does not from those commands or by waiting on it. Again before ever upgrading backup all software and files will save you a lot of time in future, some make system images of the drive before hand.

 

https://www.windowsphoneinfo.com/threads/download-windows-10-iso-file.1980/


https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

 

Thank you so much jds63!!.
Last things: Can you tell me or direct me to a guide on how to make a system image for windows 10. Also probably more important How do you do a clean install of windows 10 as I am coming from the windows 7 upgrade to windows 10.
Thank you so much again for you quick responses and help
You already read my mind *Smile

 

Your Welcome ! Plenty of tutorials here to look at when you get a chance, as ones i sent you. In some cases clean install done from a disc ISO or USB will solve certain issues, but up to person if want to go through reinstalling all other software back on. Does seem to run much better this way. Reading minds here is because you deal with many issues and ones similar to yours.

 

So as my luck would have it, or lack of, when I came back home after buying a external hard drive to back up my data I found that my PC is now in auto repair loop. I've been searching the forums and I found this
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...-recovery.html
^not sure if this will work for windows 10
I just need to get to a point where I can back up my data then its a clean install from there

 

also read this
http://www.windows10forums.com/threa...ir-cycle.1899/

are these my only options at this point
Thanks in advance