Need help with ghosted program icons on desktop in Windows

Bigbadjon303 · Oct 1, 2023

Hi All,

This is my first post, so hello from Sheffield in the UK.

I'm reaching out for help with a minor, but irritating issue.

Whenever I boot my PC up, the program Icons on my desktop are blank "Ghosted". If I toggle on view/ show icons, they come straight back. This keeps happening randomly while I'm using it.

I've tried the following fixes:
Rebuilding the icon cache
Performing a DISM Scan
Performing a SFC Scan
Resetting Windows Explorer

Can you advise if there is anything else I can try - it started a couple of months ago....I don't really know what to try next.

Thanks

Jon

iko22 · Oct 1, 2023

Hello Jon, welcome to the forum

Rebuilding the icon cache usually fixes this type of issue. As it didn't, you might like to try
i) checking that your computer has the latest graphics driver, and
ii) run an anti-virus scan

Bigbadjon303 · Oct 1, 2023

Hi Iko22,

Thanks for your reply.

I've just run a Virus check and there was nothing found. I've just checked and I'm running the latest graphics drivers too.
I forgot to mention I also ran Malwarebytes a couple of weeks ago and that didn't find anything either.

iko22 · Oct 1, 2023

You could try and diagnose whether there are any Startup Programs causing conflict, by performing a Clean Boot.

Follow Part 1 of this Tutorial and see if the situation improves:

Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts

This tutorial will show you how to perform a clean boot to start Windows 10 or Windows 11 using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs for troubleshooting application conflicts. Troubleshooting Windows can be a complex process due to the many different drivers, settings, and programs...

www.elevenforum.com

Bigbadjon303 · Oct 1, 2023

I do think this could be the issue as when I first boot up, the Icons are on the Desktop.
It's after about 30 seconds, they flicker then Grey out.

Bigbadjon303 · Oct 1, 2023

Hi Iko22,

That worked 100% - so what is the process now?

This is the first-time my icons have not gone blank for ages

Thank you.

iko22 · Oct 1, 2023

Next, you need to find which start up program is causing the conflict. I recommend you try Part Two of the same Tutorial, as that will help you.

Bigbadjon303 · Oct 1, 2023

Ok, I'll do that. Your a star. Cheers

Bigbadjon303 · Oct 1, 2023

Update on my issue - all sorted. The culprit was DROPBOX!!
After following the steps, as soon I disabled it and re-booed, all my icon's were there again.
I thought maybe it was a corrupt installation, so uninstalled my current version and installed a fresh version.
The minute it was installed, my icon's disappeared again.
So I'm now using the Dropbox web version...

Has anyone else had any issues with Dropbox?

Thanks iko22.

Need help with ghosted program icons on desktop in Windows

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