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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Lady Di on Wednesday 07 April 21 12:53 BST (UK)
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I have a PC (not laptop) running Windows 10
I'm very "untechnical" but have somehow ended up with a problem - maybe after an update or power outage at the wrong time.
Only Icons showing are Firefox, Chrome, & Edge, plus Adobe9, Noiseware & Recycle Bin.
All Microsoft (Word, Games, Exel etc) missing as are all other prog's like Photoshop
All text is the size of an ant (tried Ctrl +/- :( ) Screen displays abt 4" x 6" and on a 22" screen it's a problem
I have no direct access to anything in My Documents - although can use the search function, find a folder and open & use my files that way, all in ant size text (at odd times the ctrl +/- will work)
I have no idea what I've done to cause the problem but adjustments, suggestions or fixes would be wonderful as I'm tired of typing one handed with a magnifying glass in the other (and I do miss Solitaire!!)
REALLY appreciate help please ???
Thanks
Di
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To re-size the screen you need Ctrl and 0 (zero). Whether that will then show your Icons I don't know.
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Thanks for the suggestion Lizzie. I tried it but, frustratingly, it made no difference
Wish I knew what went wrong :'(
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I'm not sure if this is the problem you have, but there are some "fixes" here:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/desktop-icons-are-gone-only-text-shows/27375e67-b355-4a92-afd0-df5b5de7cb0e
(they look pretty technical though)
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Hi Lady Di,
Non technicalalogical offering
1. Go through your usual shut down.
2. Disconnect power to the unit and any extra peripherical whatchmacalletss
3. Go to butler's pantry and put kettle on
4. Tea or coffee plus a teasaucer plate of Tim Tams, ... take your time
5. Return refreshed, stand at desk, tell puter to pull itself together or else
6. Put plugs back where you got them from,
7. Turn on
It's moments like these you need MINTIES :)
JM
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If your screen display is so small, is the rest of the screen black? It may be that your display resolution has been changed somehow - try going into 'settings/display' & adjusting.
If not, it may be that your graphics card has developed a fault.
Michael.
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Possibly started in Safe Mode (so wouldn't see specific driver for your screen).
Reboot, using the method Majm describes (the TimTams are a crucial part of this ;D) then see if the problem persists
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Thanks for all the suggestions folks
A win or two: After shutdown (sorry, no Tim Tams :( ) (thanks JM) I can now use Ctrl & scroll wheel to increase screen displays, both text & Icons. Problem is that it only works for current screen and reverts to normal/tiny when that screen is opened again.
After shutdown I have now lost all passwords again (took ages to remember RootsChat password!!)
Any changes made, incl password storage, lost on reboot.
Common denominator appears "Shutdown". On bootup, it can't sign in to my account. It says "You've been signed in with a temporary profile"
Would that account for loss of my Main Screen Icons and Icons/direct access to microsoft word etc?
Thanks for the link Ruskie - interesting reading but hopefully not my problem
Michael J : rest of screen is blue with windows symbol
ReadyDale: Reboot didn't solve it so does that mean it's not in "Safe Mode"? (apologies for lack of tech know-how)
Question:
Option available on Device Performance & Health: FRESH START
"Start Fresh with an up-to-date and clean version of Windows ..."
Is this something I should do ... OR only in an emergency ... OR ???
Many thanks for everyone's help & suggestions.
I feel sure there's a way out of this "challenge" - just haven't found the right way YET!
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I would find your local computer expert, and get him/her to come and have a look at it. You can usually find someone by asking friends, or going to Yellow Pages etc. The best ones are usually independent and don't work from shops. I wouldn't go to the chains that sell PCs.
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I was about to advise the same, Lizzie. We have found a lovely local computer repair shop close by. They both know their stuff and charges are very reasonable. They only do repairs.
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Finally ascertained that my problem is a well reported Windows 10 "Challenge"
Unfortunately it's a problem that's been around for years, again unfortunately, without a proper fix from the source!
Everything is a "work around" ::)
Problem is when system creates a temporary profile after Windows 10 update (ref Dr Google!)
Appears to be dozens of optional fixes, any one "might" work for you but it's a case of trial and error.
I'm not confident enough to try these so will do as Lizzie suggested and call in the experts.
Appreciate your help on what now seems to be a well known and well documented computer glitch (apologies - should have checked Dr Google first)
Many thanks
Di
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Hi Di
I have a Windows 10 tablet that has recently lost the same icons from the opening page, just retained internet browser icons, but no other changes or losses noted. Fortunately I can still access the programs from the program list.
I assumed I'd somehow wiped the icons myself; your post has reassured me! And it was after an update now I think about it.
I think I can manually reattach the icons to the opening page.
Gaie
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Sorry to hear that you have a similar problem Gaie
One would expect that Windows themselves would have rectified this after their initial release of Win 10 but it seems they don't care.
Hope reattaching your icons to the main screen works. Unfortunately none of mine remained there after a restart or shutdown.
Good luck
Di
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The "temporary profile" problem has been around for a couple of decades.
The problem is that once such a profile has been used, that's the one that Windows believes it has to use, even though it was (mostly) erased as you log off.
The fix is to create a new user, restart and then log on as that user. This makes certain that the temp profile is not being used anywhere.
Then you can delete that temporary profile. It is under "Users". If your normal username is "Fred", it will be a "Fred.tmp" folder.
Then you need to search the registry using Regedit, and locate the relevant entries which still point erroneously at "Fred.tmp", and change them to get rid of the ".tmp".
After another restart, logging on as your normal self SHOULD return your usual settings.
It's not a task for a novice, unfortunately, but if you are fixing a couple a week it gets easier.
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Thanks Andrew - that sounds like one of the "fixes" I've read about.
I'm probably quite capable of doing the alterations but have lost confidence as years go by. I have other tech issues I'd like to discuss with an expert so shall do it all at the same time.
Certainly not a recommendation for Windows when a problem remains on their "to be fixed" list for decades. :o
Appreciate your input
Di