All Desktop Icons Missing

[fstjohn]

Last evening I restarted Cinnamon 18.2 and selected the memory test from the grub menu. It ran to completion with no errors. When I restarted the system, all desktop icons are missing on both monitors. In addition, right click on the desktop does nothing. Everything else seems to work. This is the first system restart in a week or so, so if an update caused the problem it may not have taken effect until the restart. Anybody else having a similar problem, and any suggestions, please.

Today's inxi:

Code: Select all

System:    Host: fred-D415MT-BM2DK Kernel: 4.4.0-91-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: N/A Distro: Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya
Machine:   Mobo: ASUSTeK model: D415MT_BM2DK v: Rev X.0x serial: 150137925702177
           Bios: American Megatrends v: 0304 date: 01/16/2015
CPU:       Dual core AMD A4-6300 APU with Radeon HD Graphics (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 14762
           clock speeds: max: 3700 MHz 1: 2600 MHz 2: 2600 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Richland [Radeon HD 8370D]
           bus-ID: 00:01.0
           Display Server: X.org 1.18.4 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A for root
Audio:     Card Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] FCH Azalia Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-91-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: e000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: 08:62:66:a0:b3:05
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 3740.8GB (19.0% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: KINGSTON_SV300S3 size: 240.1GB temp: 32C
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD1003FBYX size: 1000.2GB temp: 41C
           ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: HD103SI size: 1000.2GB temp: 0C
           ID-4: USB /dev/sdd model: External_HDD size: 1500.3GB temp: 4C
Partition: ID-1: / size: 213G used: 95G (47%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 7.72GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 2.1C mobo: N/A gpu: 1.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 0
Info:      Processes: 223 Uptime: 42 min Memory: 1398.7/7172.9MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (sudo) inxi: 2.2.35

[fstjohn]

I just noticed that in the inxl text file I posted it reports Desktop is N/A. Checked in the Software Manager and it says Cinnamon Desktop is installed. I removed and reinstalled Cinnamon, then did a restart with no change.

[fstjohn]

Tried reloading Cinnamon Desktop and Nautilus. Managed to make Mint unbootable. Restored from backup taken a couple days ago and now back to normal. I'd still like to find out what happened in case it should happen again.

[Moem]

Cinnamon does not come with Nautilus... could that have something to do with it?

[fstjohn]

No, nothing at all, Just my old age fuzzy memory cells acting up again. Nemo. Thanks for being so helpful.

[karlchen]

Hello, fstjohn.

Restored from backup taken a couple days ago and now back to normal.

This is a valid approach of getting back to a usable system state. The more so as your main goal will be having a usable system and not doing computer forensics.

I'd still like to find out what happened in case it should happen again.

As you will not have backed up the "problematic system state" beforehand, by restoring the backup you deleted any pieces of evidence which might have helped find out what had been wrong. So little to no chance of finding out.

Best regards,
Karl

[jackl]

I have the same issue on an LMDE2 system. I ran an update that included cinnamon and numerous cinnamon-related packages, and when I rebooted and logged in, I have no desktop icons. I also lost automounting of USB sticks.

I tried going to preferences and enabling and disabling the desktop icon display, but it didn't help.

There's probably a configuration file somewhere that needs a change.

I can get the desktop icons back by running "nohup nemo-desktop &" in a shell, but that's not a great solution.

I guess it's my fault--it was marked as a "Level 3" upgrade, which means, "you don't absolutely need this", but I wish there'd been a more specific warning about the potential breakage.

[Bedlore]

I'm in the same boat, would like a permanent solution please

[fstjohn]

I'm so sorry I didn't take a full backup before restoring. Maybe I could have provided some insight by furnishing dumps or logs. At any rate, After my system restore I've accepted all updates including a kernel update, with no problems.

[ehtron]

Hi
start
nemo-desktop

as workaround, set a starter with nemo-desktop in the startup... 10 sec delay.