Windows 10: Windows 10 & Missing Desktop Icons

- Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit

I was repairing, uninstalling, and installing an app yesterday. In the process, I somehow managed to delete many, but not all, of my desktop icons. My guess is that I lost about 60 to 75 percent of my prior desktop icons.

My desktop icons are just shortcuts to various programs. Although I don't have a complete inventory of my prior desktop icons, I noticed that various Adobe apps (cloud, and various apps such as Lightroom, Acrobat, and others), Acronis Backup, Powershell, Intel SSD Toolbox, CCleaner and so on went missing.

I checked my Recycle Bin and there was nothing there.

This morning, I thought that I would simply reach into my Acronis Backup to the Desktop folder, and retrieve my missing shortcuts. When I went to the Desktop folder, the only shortcuts that were present were the ones that survived yesterday's purge. My prior shortcuts that went missing were still missing.

While I was trying to understand what took place, I upgraded my Acronis Backup from 12.0 to 12.5. In the process, Acronis Backup created a desktop icon. I looked at my current Desktop folder, and there is *no* Acronis Backup shortcut file listed. So that leads me to my questions:

Question One: Why do some shortcuts have files in the Desktop folder, while other shortcuts do not?

Question Two: Is there any way to save or protect one's desktop?

Here's the path to my desktop folder:
C:\Users\UserName\Desktop

On the positive side, my desktop is cleaner now.

I'd appreciate input on my two prior questions.

:)

 

Windows 10 desktop icons not in order

In ccleaner, did you uncheck cleaning the icon cache... have not used in a while; however, I think that is what the option is called.

Now, if you are setting the icons and they move after you have set the settings and not changed them... you may have the "Random Windows 10 Icon movement problem".
Some people have this and some don't.

Here is a thread on the problem at Windows10 forums: Windows 10: Folder View Settings and Desktop Icon Positions Not Saving

 

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.

 

Missing desktop icons

Hi,

In order for us to address your concern about the missing desktop icons, kindly answer the following questions first:

• Have you made any recent changes to your computer system prior to getting this issue?
  
• What is the current version and build of your Windows 10? To get these information follow these steps:
  

• Press Windows key + R.
• Once the Run box appears, type Winver.
• Press Enter.
• A small window will appear which will show these information.

(You may need to update your Windows computer, please refer to this
support link to get information about Windows update history as well as how to update your device.)

• Aside from doing the commands above, what are other troubleshooting steps have you taken for your missing desktop icons issue?
  

We look forward to your response.

Regards.