My desktop icons got hiden.

Hi guys, this might be very simple thing but I need to ask you for some help with restoring the icons and anything that is on my desktop. Here is what happened as much as I know one of my family members clicked one of the buttons in a message box asking something that she doesn’t remember and everything on my desktop got hidden. She doesn’t remember what was the message box asking or which button she pressed.
Now if I check my desktop by right clicking the start button and selecting Explore and then selecting the desktop directory I can see the icons and the files I have on desk top but I cannot see them when I don’t use windows explorer, my desktop is empty. Does anyone know how I can get the icons and anything on my desktop back? I am using widows XP. Thanks in advance!

What ever program was running most likely changed a registry key enabling a restriction. Here is how to fix the problem: http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/147/

Opposite click on desktop-Arrange Icons-Show Desktop Icons.
That may be it.

That time, there is no message box prompt you to take an action.

May be she runs the Desktop Cleanup Wizard. There can be all the icons are ticked and just after click the OK button all are gone.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by eranga262154

That time, there is no message box prompt you to take an action.

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True, but I don't trust usually the end-users account of what actually happened. I try for the low-hanging fruit first. If the items are still showing in Windows Explorer I bet a shinny nickel that they really click the desktop context menu, rather than a mystery message box.

Ok, let see what else we can found, such messages. As far as I know, registry wont be the case. Because just a few steps this wont be happened. Show hide desktop icon, no message is prompt. So...