Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works

Posted by: tanstaafl.

Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 07:14

My "Show Desktop" icon in the system tray no longer works.

This particular routine is unusual, in that it is not an ordinary shortcut to an application. Instead, it (apparently) calls up a bit of code embedded in Internet Explorer. Microsoft's knowledge base has a routine for re-creating the Show Desktop icon that writes the following to the "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch" directory:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

There is also a "Guided Help" option on the Microsoft website that does it all automatically.

I have done it manually, and I have used the Guided Help option. As near as I can tell, both methods create the proper file in the proper location, but Show Desktop doesn't work.

Does anybody have a fix for this?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: drakino

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 15:47

Does the key combination Windows-D still work to show it?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 18:35

Quote:
Does the key combination Windows-D still work to show it?


Damifino... my keyboard dates back to Windows 3.0 (It's a Gateway 2000 "Anykey") and it doesn't have one of those fancy-schmancy Windows keys.



tanstaafl.
Posted by: visuvius

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 19:34

Well whenever I have this problem (and I used to often on my old Dell laptop for some reason) I did basically the same thing as you, ie, followed the directions on the link you provided. But you sort of lost me with:

Quote:
Microsoft's knowledge base has a routine for re-creating the Show Desktop icon that writes the following to the "C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\QuickLaunch" directory:


I just open a blank notepad file, paste that bit of code, and save the file as Show Desktop.scf to my desktop. This creates the Show Desktop shortcut and I just move it back into my Quick Launch toolbar.

Sorry if you already tried this!
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 19:43

Quote:
Sorry if you already tried this!


Yes, I tried it manually the first three or four times, then used the little Microsoft applet (which does exactly the same thing as doing it manually, except it's just clicking on dialog buttons -- standard "wizard" stuff) and the end results were the same either way.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 19:46

Quote:
doesn't have one of those fancy-schmancy Windows keys.


Hah! I found an old USB keyboard that SWMBO left behind, plugged it in, and sure enough, the "'Windows' - D" trick does show the desktop.

What does that mean, and is it anything I can use to my advantage?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: AndrewT

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 23/09/2007 21:35

Perhaps the file asociation for .scf files is broken.

To check/repair it run regedit then look in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.scf -- it should look like the following:



If that looks okay then copy/pasting the following into a .reg file and double-clicking might change your computer's behaviour in this instance (this is a guess... it might bugger it up totally). Make a System Restore Point beforehand::
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile]
"NeverShowExt"=""
@="Windows Explorer Command"
"InfoTip"="prop:DocComments"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\CLSID]
@="{57651662-CE3E-11D0-8D77-00C04FC99D61}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell\open\command]
@="explorer.exe"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="[ShellFile(\"%1\",\"%1\",%S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shell\open\ddeexec\Topic]
@="AppProperties"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SHCmdFile\shellex\IconHandler]
@="{57651662-CE3E-11D0-8D77-00C04FC99D61}"
Posted by: lectric

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 03:40

Cool, never used that one. I used Windows-M all the time, but I like Windows-D better as hitting it again puts things back. And as to what it means, I assume D = show desktop, where M = Minimize all.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 05:49

Quote:
it should look like the following:


It looks exactly like that.

Quote:
If that looks okay then copy/pasting the following into a .reg file and double-clicking


I did that, but when I double-click it, it just opens the file in notepad. Looks like that file association at least is incorrect. How do I fix it? Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/File Types/Advanced is as far as I know to go, what am I supposed to associate with *.reg files, and how do I go about it?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: AndrewT

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 06:34

It could be that your Windows is hiding file extensions and you created somefile.reg.txt?

An alternative is to run regedit and use File->Import
Posted by: Roger

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 12:49

Quote:
It could be that your Windows is hiding file extensions and you created somefile.reg.txt?


If you want to save a file from notepad without the .txt extension, put quotes around the filename: "somefile.reg"
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 12:58

Quote:
I like Windows-D better as hitting it again puts things back.

Okay, that is awesome. Even the icon does that, which I didn't realize.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 15:57

Quote:
Perhaps the file asociation for .scf files is broken.


I tried to help Doug debug this privately, and that's the conclusion I came to as well.

More than that, I think the file association for many files types somehow got broken on that machine.

I know it's not a question of the file getting named .reg.txt , because the first thing he does on any new machine (like me) is to turn off extension-hiding.

So there's something fishy going on there, I just have no idea what.
Posted by: tman

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 16:09

"Repair Associations" option in TweakUI?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 23:00

Quote:
It could be that your Windows is hiding file extensions and you created somefile.reg.txt?


I'm pretty sure that is not the case. The instructions that Microsoft gives on recreating the icon specifically warns about this, and as Tony said earlier I always have my file extensions displayed. Also, the applet that Microsoft provides that creates the file automatically would most likely do it correctly, and neither the manually created nor the automatically created icon works.

Interestingly enough, Windows hides the .scf extension even though filetype extension display is turned on in Explorer. SCF, I believe, stands for Shell Command File, and these seem to be "special" files. The icon is not an ordinary shortcut pointing towards an executable, but seems to be part of the executable itself.

Looking at the filename from a DOS prompt does show the .scf extension, and a peek at my Windows Registry does seem to indicate that the .scf file association is intact.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 24/09/2007 23:05

Quote:
More than that, I think the file association for many files types somehow got broken on that machine.


Well, I know for sure of only one broken association (*.reg files opening with notepad rather than executing) and I am pretty sure I broke that one myself. I don't remember the exact circumstances, but at one point I wanted to see what was inside a *.reg file (likely one that you sent me!) and there is a pretty good chance that I opened it with Notepad and failed to turn off the "Always use this application to open this type of file" check box.

Can you tell me what I have to do to fix that association?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 00:07

Open an Explorer window (double-click on My Computer, for instance), click on the Tools menu and select the Folder Options menu item. Click on the File Types tab and find the entry for "REG". There should be a button that says "Restore". Click it.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 04:09

Quote:
There should be a button that says "Restore". Click it.


I can find no such button.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: Dignan

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 10:45

Quote:
Quote:
There should be a button that says "Restore". Click it.


I can find no such button.

I was curious so I checked mine too, and I don't see a button like that. Did you step through that one yourself, Bitt? It's odd that you'd have a different option there. What version of Windows are you running?
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 11:48

If it's non-standard, the "Advanced" button changes to "Restore". If the "Restore" button is not there, it's already set to the default. If you want to change it to something else, that panel is where you do it from. It ought to be reasonably obvious at that point.

This was under Windows XP Pro, so I suppose that it's possible that it might be slightly different elsewhere.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 21:36

Quote:
If it's non-standard, the "Advanced" button changes to "Restore". If the "Restore" button is not there, it's already set to the default.


That doesn't seem right... Neither my computer at home nor my computer at work show the "Restore" option, yet my home computer says :"Opens with Notepad" for the program associated with *.reg files, while my work computer says "Opens with Registry Editor". They can't both be the default. Can they?

As I said before, I am pretty sure I broke the *.reg association myself through carelessness in viewing a *.reg file. How can I make my home computer associate "Registry Editor" (whatever that is!) with the *.reg files?

And above all, how can I get my "Show Desktop" routine to work? If/when I get the *.reg file association thing fixed, I'll try the *.reg script that AndrewT posted above, and see if that fixes it. I have to confess that I don't even begin to understand what that script does.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 21:42

Somewhere up above, someone suggested using TweakUI and fixing your default associations. I think it was a good suggestion. Have you tried that yet?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 25/09/2007 23:33

Quote:
using TweakUI and fixing your default associations.


I remember reading that, and then it slipped my mind.

I'll try that tonight. Thanks for the reminder.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 02:15

Quote:
Somewhere up above, someone suggested using TweakUI and fixing your default associations. I think it was a good suggestion. Have you tried that yet?


Perhaps I'm just not smart enough to own a computer... but I can't find anything in TweakUI that has anything to do with repairing file associations.

What am I overlooking?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: Schido

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 04:16

Isn't it as easy as shift-right clicking a .reg file, choose open with..., choose program..., pick regedit from the list (or browse...), and be sure to check the box: always open wih this program? (or something like that, i have dutch windows at work).
Posted by: Phoenix42

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 10:27

Tweak UI is an add-on. It can be downloaded from this page, look over on the right hand side about half way down.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 16:23

I don't think he's got a problem with installing TweakUI, I think where his problem lies is finding the option to repair default file associations buried in the extensive TweakUI property screens.

I'm on Vista at the moment and can't look it up myself. Anyone?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 18:49

Quote:
pick regedit from the list (or browse...)


Yes... but is regedit the program I want? That's been my problem to date -- I don't know what program to use for the *.reg file association.

Re: Tony: You are correct, I have had TweakUI installed for years, I even updated to the latest version last night, but don't see where it can correct/repair file associations.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: AndrewT

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:03

Quote:
I don't know what program to use for the *.reg file association.


I'm probably missing a vital piece of background information here but there's no necessity for the *.reg association. You can manually import a *.reg file:

Start -> Run... regedit will get Regedit up on your PC.

From there: File -> Import... and browse to the *.reg file you want to import.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:08

I know he doesn't need the file association for regedit to make regedit work.

But my worry is that the thing that's broken is the association for .SCF files, and that's why the microsoft KB fix isn't working for him.

If the association for SCF files is broken, maybe other file associations are broken on the machine as well, pointing to an even larger problem. That's why I think the TweakUI "fix default file associations" trick is worth trying.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:09

Quote:
but don't see where it can correct/repair file associations.


According to uncle Google:

Quote:
1. Access the TweakUI Control Panel applet (if you do not have it installed, read the tip elsewhere in MalekTips).
2. On the multi-tabbed dialog box that appears, click on the "Repair" tab (you may need to click on the arrows next to the tabs to cycle through the tabbed windows).
3. Click on the pulldown arrow and choose "Repair Associations."
4. Now, click "Repair Now."
5. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.


I think that was the Win98 version instructions, but maybe XP is similar.
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:29

I don't see anything that looks like file association stuff in TweakUI for XP v2.10.0.0.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:32

Darn. Where else can we get some kind of fixer for that sort of thing?
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:39

Quote:
From there: File -> Import... and browse to the *.reg file you want to import.


Oh.

Now that makes me feel like a doofus. I should have been smart enough to think of that. I'll give it a try when I get home tonight.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:44

Quote:
But my worry is that the thing that's broken is the association for .SCF files, and that's why the microsoft KB fix isn't working for him.


It may well be broken, in fact that is the most likely explanation for the problem. But what IS a file association other than a couple of lines in the Windows Registry? The REG section in my work computer registry looks exactly the same as the REG section in my computer at home. If the Registry is correct, can the file association still be broken?

Apparently the Show Desktop routine calls on some snippet of code within Internet Explorer. Could the problem lie within IE?

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:54

Quote:
But what IS a file association other than a couple of lines in the Windows Registry?

For the most part, yes, that's all it is.

Sometimes those lines in the windows registry will point to something called a "handler", which is an entry point in a DLL, that runs actual code when that file extension is encountered.

When you had a problem getting the SCF to work *AND* getting the REG to work, I thought that maybe a whole bunch of file associations had gotten messed up. But perhaps that's not it at all; like you said, the registry entry looks correct to you.

Quote:
Could the problem lie within IE?

Very well could be!
Posted by: AndrewT

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 19:59

Here is a collection of *.reg files. The *.scf is more complete than the one I posted further up. Amongst them there's also one for *.reg association.
Posted by: Ladmo

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 21:14

I just dug through one of the databases and it gives this info. Would be interested to know what happens when you try it?

If the Show Desktop icon is deleted from Quick Launch, the procedure below will recreate the file.

Open Notepad and enter the following text:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Save the new file as Show Desktop.scf then drag and drop the icon on the Quick Launch bar or
whatever location you want the shortcut to appear.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 21:20

Yes, that's exactly the procedure he was trying to follow. It did not work, because the SCF file isn't being treated like an executable script.

At first we thought it was because the file association for SCF was messed up, but doug says the registry is correct for SCF file associations.
Posted by: tman

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 26/09/2007 22:07

Quote:
Yes, that's exactly the procedure he was trying to follow. It did not work, because the SCF file isn't being treated like an executable script.

At first we thought it was because the file association for SCF was messed up, but doug says the registry is correct for SCF file associations.

I'm afraid you're going to have to use the universal Windows fix:

Step 1 - Reinstall Windows
Step 2 - Repeat as necessary
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 27/09/2007 04:44

Quote:
Here is a collection of *.reg files. The *.scf is more complete than the one I posted further up. Amongst them there's also one for *.reg association.


Yes, indeed!

The *.scf fixer worked! So, Tony was right all along.

The *reg fixer did not work, but Schido's suggestion of just forcing regedit.exe as the default program for all files of type *.reg did work. I would have done that from the beginning but I just didn't know if regedit.exe was indeed the correct program.

So, problem(s) solved, and all is right with the world. Thanks to all, especially AndrewT, Tony, and Schido for the help. I learned a lot from this experience. Unfortunately at my advanced age, by this time tomorrow I'll probably have forgotten it all.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: tfabris

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 27/09/2007 18:46

I'm glad you got it sorted.

The fact that your SCF file association was messed up is a worry, still. I wonder which others are messed up.
Posted by: tanstaafl.

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 27/09/2007 19:57

Quote:
I wonder which others are messed up.



To the best of my knowledge, none.

For a three or four year old installation, my computer runs remarkably smoothly. This SCF business was the first real problem I've had. I have a lot of applications installed, a lot of peripherals connected (last week I had to move everything out of the room for the carpet layers, I had 34 separate, discrete cables to reconnect!) and everything works.

tanstaafl.
Posted by: Phoenix42

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 28/09/2007 21:52

Quote:
I don't think he's got a problem with installing TweakUI, I think where his problem lies is finding the option to repair default file associations buried in the extensive TweakUI property screens.


I really need to read slower, I feel like an 1d10t.

Edit: Fixed a broken end quote tag. Apparently you need to type slower, too. -wfaulk
Posted by: gbeer

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 29/09/2007 00:22

Quote:
Quote:
I don't think he's got a problem with installing TweakUI, I think where his problem lies is finding the option to repair default file associations buried in the extensive TweakUI property screens.


I really need to read slower, I feel like an 1d10t.


One Dee Ten Tee. Have you been reading lately?

Maybe "Vorpal Blade" by John Ringo?
Posted by: disp

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 02/10/2007 04:26

got the same problem and was easily able to use the .scr fix to re-associate the .scf file to show the desktop BUT the icon is gone... how can i repair that?? the ico reg fix didnt do the trick
whats next to get the icon back please
thnx in advance
Posted by: disp

Re: Windows XP problem: "Show Desktop" icon no longer works - 02/10/2007 04:40

bingo tweakui fixed the icon associations fine thnks 4 vrythng