Desktop icons have an issue

I've just discovered by accident that I have an issue with my desktop icons. When I right click on any icon, I get the popup window
displaying several options including usually 'open', 'show more options' and others. When I select either 'open' or 'show more options'
the popup window simply disappears and nothing else happens. If I double click on the icon I get the intended result e.g. an app starting or
a folder being opened. If it is an app I can select the 'run as an administrator' and the app starts.
I only discovered this after I accidentally created duplicate shortcuts on the desktop and tried to delete one. I could not
get to the delete option since its under the 'show more options'.

I rebooted my laptop and when it came up, I immediately tested the right click on a couple of icons and it worked fine, I was able to select 'open'
and the app started, I select 'show more options' and the next popup screen showed additional options e.g. 'delete'.

I waited a few minutes without doing anything... not starting or running any apps, opening folders etc. I then tested the right click on several icons
and I could not 'open' or 'select 'show more options'.

I tried the reboot and test as noted above several times with the same result. So... I'm stumped. I.m not overly familiar with the Windows logs
and even if I looked at them I have absolutely no idea of what I'd be looking for... As I mentioned previously, I stumbled onto this by accident and
don't know how long it has existed since I always double click on the desktop icons.

Has anyone seen anything like this or have any suggestions? Its not a show stopper now but I'm concerned that whatever is causing this issue
may cause other issues in the future.

My windows OS:

Windows 11 Home
Version - 22h2
build - 22621.2283

For the deleting, when you highlight an icon and choose Properties do you get the list with the Trash Can on it? Does it work if highlighting and pressing the Del key?

@BEH


Open a command prompt as admin and run this command... sfc /scannow
See if things are working after that.



IF you get the "Show More Options" working again... then here's the tutorial for getting the classic right click context menu, back. But you need to get the "Show More Options" working before you try to switch to the classic context menu.








And for future reference...

Could also try Shift+right click, right away.

I suggest you obtain more info about the problem by finding out if the problem happens in
1 Another user account Add Local User Account - ElevenForumTutorials, and
2 In Safe mode Boot to Safe Mode - ElevenForumTutorials

If the results are
1 Yes, and
2 No
then go to your computer maker's support site, get another copy of the display driver and reinstall it [even if it is the same version as the one you have now].


Best of luck,
Denis

Berton... I didn't see and trash can icon when I highlighted an icon and right clicked and selected properties.
GHOT.. I ran the cmd - sfc /scannow and this did not change anything. I've attached what was displayed in CMD.
Edwin.. tried the shift+right click and this caused the screen to disappear and reappear, looked like it was being
rebuilt. I could then right click on an icon and see all options. However, after a couple of minutes this
stopped working again. The shift+right click worked again, for a couple of minutes the repeat of not working.
I'm a little hesitant to try the adding of another account / boot in safe mode... Haven't done either before...

thanks

BEH said:

Berton... I didn't see and trash can icon when I highlighted an icon and right clicked and selected properties.

Click to expand...

Right-click of an actual shortcut icon should give this list, suggests Recycle Bin isn't exactly the same as a shortcut. Trash Can maybe be at the bottom or top of the list depending upon where the icon is on the desktop.

BEH said:

I'm a little hesitant to try the adding of another account / boot in safe mode... Haven't done either before...

Click to expand...

Those tests will reveal more about the problem that might assist diagnosis.

Or you could just reinstall the display driver without conducting those tests.

Try3 said:

go to your computer maker's support site, get another copy of the display driver and reinstall it [even if it is the same version as the one you have now]

Click to expand...

It's just that if the problem was also seen in Safe mode or not seen in another user account then you'd know that reinstalling the driver driver would be a waste of time.


Best of luck,
Denis

thanks Denis... I'll do some additional reading.... when I'm in safe mode, I assume I'll see the same icons
that appear in normal mode and the test will be to select and right click to the usual popup window
and the select the 'show more options'; To return to normal mode, do I simply restart?

Berton... yes I can see the small icon at the bottom of the popup screen... that will at least give me the
ability to quickly delete the icon if I choose...

thanks

As for Safe Mode diagnostic, many things won't be loaded into memory so some icons may not be there or be a generic image.

BEH said:

when I'm in safe mode, I assume I'll see the same icons
that appear in normal mode

Click to expand...

You'll see several of them.

BEH said:

the test will be to select and right click to the usual popup window
and the select the 'show more options'

Click to expand...

Yes, just do the same as you normally do so that the experiences are fully comparable.

BEH said:

To return to normal mode, do I simply restart?

Click to expand...

If you use Option 1 of the tutorial, Yes.


All the best,
Denis