Windows 10 - Desktop Icons Displayed as Black Squares & Windows Explorer Icons Not Working Properly

Hi,

I realize that you are facing the issue with the icons in Windows 10, let me assist you.

This issue might occur if the drivers are corrupted, outdated or it might occur if there are any software conflict in the system. 

Before proceeding to further steps of troubleshooting, try updating the display drivers and check if the issue is resolved.

• Press Windows key + X key and select Device Manager.

• Find and double-click Display adapters.

• Right-click the device listed and click Update Driver Software.

• Click on Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the on screen instructions.

• Restart the laptop after updating the drivers and check if it helps.

If the issue still persists, check and let us know if the issue persists in Safe Mode with Networking.

Refer to the below article on Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode

If the issue doesn't persist in Safe Mode with Networking, perform a clean boot and check if it helps.

Clean boot is performed to start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This helps eliminate software conflicts that occur when you install a program or an update or when you run a program in Windows 10.

Refer to the below article on How to perform a clean boot in Windows.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135

Note: After performing clean boot, refer to the section How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting to boot the system in normal mode.

Hope this helps. Kindly write back to us with the updated status of the issue for further assistance on Windows, we'll be glad to assist you.

Hello Mohan.

My display is a NVIDIA GeForce GT 630, upon search for update the answer was "The best driver software for your device is already installed".

Therefore I performed the "Start your PC in safe mode with Networking" step and the problem still remains.

What do you suggest now please?

Lyla

I tried to do an SFC scan and repair under the administrator command prompt but that wouldn't complete: sfc /scannow

Beginning verification phase of system scan.

Verification 35% complete.

Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

I am also wondering why my System Information / System Summary report lists my Hardware Abstration Layer as Version 10.0.10586.420 when my OS Build is listed as 10586.494.

For the File Explorer issue I used Task Manager to end the process, then ran EXPLORER.EXE to reset - didn't fix the problem of no file folder (left) pane either.

FYI my PC is an i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz, and was purchased with Windows 8. I did the free online ugrade to Windows 10 a few months ago. My computer ran fine until the last update was automatically done in July.

Lyla

1) Further to the File Explorer problem: I have found out that there is no file tree (left pane) when I open file explorer. However, if I am in Word, the file tree is visible when I Save / Save As files. Does this help at all with solving the problem?

2) I ran a virus check on my PC and there were a few threats found and quarantined but no viruses.

3) I made an ISO file (using the MediaCreationTool.exe program) to reinstall Windows 10. Is this a new file off the internet, and is safe to use, or will it still contain the errors that I am experiencing because it used my PC to build some of the system files?

I could really use some advice on how to reinstall Windows 10 on my PC, as this looks like it is going to be the only solution to fix my problems.

No update from me, but I too have the black squares on my desktop icons. I don't have them in Explorer, nor do I have the missing file tree. I thought I had fixed them by a) increasing the size of the icon cache, and b) rebuilding the icon cache. That lasted through two reboots, but now the black squares are back, and the rebuilding no longer works. All desktop icons except for the recycle bin (which is a custom icon) show the black square.

I too ugraded from Windows 8; I have a Yoga 3 Pro with a Core i5, with Intel HD 5300 graphics adapter. Drivers are up to date.

This is very annoying.

This seems to have done the trick:  http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3606-shortcut-arrow-change-remove-restore.html

I installed the Vista Shortcut Manager, set my shortcut arrow to nothing, and when I logged off and back in, the black squares were gone.

Two reboots since, and it's still working...