Virus Attack? Unhide Transparent Icons On Your Windows Desktop Using File Attributes

If you find a lot of transparent icons on your desktop or some completely disappeared, then it’s possible a virus changed your icon file attributes

1. Obviously, transparent icons or hidden icons are not ok and you should first of all run a virus scan – we recommend to use AVG or Panda software for this purpose.

2. We previously explained how to unhide a hidden hosts file, so you may want to read this as well

Unhide Hidden Desktop Icons The Old-Fashioned Way (Not recommended, for beginners)

3. The easiest solution to the problem is obviously this one

•  Open the Windows Explorer via Windows key + E

•  In the left sidebar go select the blue desktop icon to go to your desktop folder

•  Now hit CTRL + A to select all desktop icons – make sure to hold CTRL and click the icons Libraries, Homegroup, Computer, Control Panel, Network, User, Recycle Bin

•  Right-click on a file while still holding CTRL and click on Properties

•  It should say something like xx Files, xx Folders – uncheck the box Hidden and click Apply

Unhide Hidden Desktop Icons Using The Command Prompt

4. If that does NOT work, you follow the following steps

•  Open an elevated command prompt (I just tested it, you don’t need elevated rights for this apparently)

•  Enter cd C:\Users\username\Desktop (replace username with your own actual username – if you are unsure browse to C:\Users\ and see if anything sounds familiar like your nick or something!)

•  Enter attrib -r -a -h -s hosts

• -r (remove read-only)
• -a (remove archive attrib)
• -h (remove hidden attrib)
• -s (remove system attrib)

The command above changes the file attributes in a way that will make sure all of your files are visible, regular non-system files.