Program/Apps disappeared off desktop/start bar but useable from Program Files?

Hello. I'm trying to trouble shoot something odd that happened a little while ago. All of the icons on my desktop disappeared one day, and now when I use the start bar to find a program nothing comes up. For instance, Word or iTunes. However, if I go to open a word doc or play an mp3 the program will start up as normal. I can also locate the programs in Program Files. I've tried dragging them back onto my desktop but they disappear when I restart the laptop and nothing gets them back into my Start bar.

Does anyone know what's going on here? I've tried clearing the icon cache and making sure my desktop has all icons visible. I don't think this happened after any sort of update either. I'm just really stumped.

After I open a program I right-click its icon on the Taskbar which should be visible and choose Pin to taskbar. If there is an issue there may be an error about it already existing, prompts deeper diagnosing of the problem.

Berton said:

After I open a program I right-click its icon on the Taskbar which should be visible and choose Pin to taskbar. If there is an issue there may be an error about it already existing, prompts deeper diagnosing of the problem.

Click to expand...

That's a good idea. I can pin to Taskbar but if I Pin to Start nothing happens.

Do you see the desired icons in All apps? I added a new program today and it shows in All apps so I right-clicked it to add to Start, worked so I then right-clicked and chose Pin to taskbar, also worked. If there's 3 horizontal dots on the Taskbar some shortcuts will be on that, sort of an overflow list when too many get Pinned.

Berton said:

Do you see the desired icons in All apps? I added a new program today and it shows in All apps so I right-clicked it to add to Start, worked so I then right-clicked and chose Pin to taskbar, also worked. If there's 3 horizontal dots on the Taskbar some shortcuts will be on that, sort of an overflow list when too many get Pinned.

Click to expand...

No. It shows the file where the app should be but then the file is empty.