Windows 11 desktop icons are missing and Task Manager will not open
Asked by
MellowCedar42
After disconnecting my Windows 11 PC to move it to a different outlet extender, I started it again and found that most desktop and taskbar icons were missing. Only a few default apps, along with Claude, still appear. Task Manager also refuses to open regardless of which shortcut or method I use. I have already tried restarting several times, including in Safe Mode, and tested a new user account. I also ran CHKDSK, SFC, DISM, restarted DWM, checked IFEO and AppLocker settings, rebuilt the icon and thumbnail caches, and ran ie4uinit, but nothing changed. What else can I try?
Answers
A reboot is the first basic thing to try, since Explorer or the shell may not have loaded correctly after the power was disconnected. However, if you have already restarted normally and in Safe Mode with no change, that alone probably will not fix the problem.
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MellowCedar42: I have already restarted the PC several times, both normally and in Safe Mode, and the missing icons and Task Manager problem remain unchanged.