Windows 10: Unable to click on UI elements (desktop icons, taskbar etc.) at random intervals

For a few weeks now I have been getting an issue with my computer where I can not click on certain things like the taskbar or icons or the buttons on a window to close or minimize it. I have been searching for solutions but at this point I cant figure out the issue. The way that I can temporarily fix this is by ctrl alt delete and click anywhere. This fixes the issue for minutes to hours before I need to do it again, so not a permanent solution. In have tried the following:

antivirus scan

system file checker

dism

clean boot

checked all the disks

checked all the drivers

uninstalled the most recent programs installed

tried this command which apparently reinstalls windows apps or something (may be incorrect, I'm not an expert) "$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest"

So at this point I don't really know what to do next. I'm on a Windows 10 Home laptop, MSI manufacturer. The first image is before I click to fix the issue. Second image is after, where things can be clicked on. The cursor changes, I don't know if that is relevant. Any kind of info would be greatly appreciated because I don't want to resort to completely wiping everything. Thanks

:)

 

System Icons on taskbar

Hi,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Communities.

Are you referring to the clock system icon on the taskbar?

If so, I suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below:

• 
  Click on the search bar on the taskbar.
  
• 
  Type system icons.
  
• 
  Under Turn System Icons ON or OFF, turn On the Clock and check with the issue.
  

Hope it helps.

 

Cannot change desktop icon

Sometimes a desktop icon changes from what it was to a plain white folder. Might be something I did but not sure what.

To change it to the icon I want, I go:

1. Rt-click icon > Properties > Change icon
2. I select the icon I want from the thumbnails of icons.
3. Click OK
4. Click Apply

But the icon does not change. It just stays looking like a white folder.
HOWEVER, if I pin the icon to the taskbar, the icon on the taskbar does look like the icon I selected in step-2. So the change is registered with Win10 but the icon on the desktop just doesn't change.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

 

Remove Linux Desktop Icons

I am not sure whether this will work (Ubuntu does not have icons like that on the desktop by default), but I suggest opening the trash bin and sweeping the icons into the window showing the trash bin.