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Internet Explorer 7 Desktop icon missing

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Author: Raghu Boddu MVP
Community Solutions Content Disclaimer
Article ID:555849
Last Review:January 21, 2007
Revision:1.0

SUMMARY

The Internet Explorer icon might be missing after either you upgrade the Internet Explorer version to 7, or installed through Windows updates.

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CAUSE

This is not an issue and is by design. Unlike the previous versions of Internet Explorer, the option to enable to Internet Explorer icon on the Windows Desktop is not available. The behavior of Internet Explorer 7, which is bundled with Windows Vista is also the same.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve the issue, perform the following:
 
1. Click Start, Run.
2. Type "regedit.exe" (Without quotes).
3. Navigate to the following registry key:
 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel
 
4. In the right hand pane, double-click {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} key.
5. Enter dword value as 0 to enable the Internet Explorer icon on the Desktop.
 

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MORE INFORMATION

Alternatively, create and run a .REG file.
 
1. Open Notepad (Click Start, Run, type notepad.exe)
2. Cut and Paste the below lines. (Ignore the Start from Here and End Here lines)
 
# Start from Here
 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000
 
# End Here
 
3. Save the file with an extension .REG and double-click it to add the Registry value.
4. Refresh (F5) the Desktop.
 
NOTE: The same registry file can be used in Windows Vista also.

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APPLIES TO
•Windows Vista Starter
•Windows Vista Ultimate
•Windows Vista Enterprise

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Keywords: 
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COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS CONTENT DISCLAIMER
MICROSOFT CORPORATION AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, OR ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED HEREIN. ALL SUCH INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS RESPECTIVE SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WORKMANLIKE EFFORT, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. YOU SPECIFICALLY AGREE THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE INFORMATION AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED HEREIN, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF MICROSOFT OR ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES.

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