Active Desktop Recovery - Object doesn’t support this action
I had a problem on my desktop for the longest time and I finally decided to look into it yesterday. My desktop had this white background and it said Active Desktop Recovery. Also, there was a button that said Restore my Active Desktop.
But here’s the thing, every time I clicked it, a message box would appear like the one below.
It took me quite a while but I located a fix!
- Open an explorer window (open My Computer for example)
- Tools
- Folder Options
- View
- Uncheck Hide protected operating system files
- Now do a search for desktop.htt…it should be on your C: normally
- Delete any desktop.htt files you find (there could be more than one depending on how many user profiles are on the machine) They should be located in Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
- Close all windows you have open
- Now reboot your PC..Windows will recreate desktop.htt for you and it should work!
oops…I almost forgot….go ahead a place a check back in Hide protected operating system files
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Shit happens...deal with it. I've heard it all....or at least I'd like to think I have....................................................
as a Windows user myself, i encounter problems like this once in a while. and oh, man… it’s so frustrating when this problem occurs. this is perhaps the best advantage of Linux over Windows. in Linux, script errors and virus attacks seldom happen. in fact, i haven’t encountered one.
Hi Jessie…thanks for stopping by!
That’s what I hear about Linux from others as well. I have never used linux before and I’d like to start, but I don’t know where to begin.
Thanks… I was excited to c this post… THis is wat I am also facing. But it does not solve my issue
can u suggest something?
Hey This worked for me
desktop.htt pretty much controls the size and position of your desktop. IE7 is a little bit incompatible with the old profile you may have had already. To fix it go Start >Run, type and enter regedit
Go to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\Components
Change the value of DeskHtmlVersion to zero instead of decimal 272.
Thanks Piyush! I am glad you got it resolved!
hi,
one thing i’ve noticed is that this problem mostly occurs on user’s who have just installed Internet Explorer 7. Personally i think the two are linked.
Hi - I have same problem and followed your instructions to get rid of the ‘active desktop recovery programme’ and all fine up to No 6 - now search for desktop.htt
- It should be on your C: normally - and I cannot locate C;
Please can you help me
James
this aint a comment but im getting that the active desktop crap but my esplore will keep going away and i reset it and now its just flashing the start menu bar then flash 2 empty space and back andforth sorry if im not explaining it good and if i wanna run something i cant cuz when it pops up again i loose what im doing prettymuch only think i can be on really is the net plz help if u can
Brilliant. I have just spend the last 5 days trying to resolve the same issue, and thought that I had finally found a simple solution with your instructions Piyush. Other sites were suggesting a complete Repair XP Install. Your solution to delete the Desktop.htt file did not work for me either. However, the subsequent info to change the regedit value as well has worked. Thank you so much.
To James Hill
I’m not sure…I am not a tech support specialist….I just post issues that I come across and how I fixed them. If my fix doesn’t work for you…..then there’s nothing else I can do for you.
To Jason
Sounds like spyware to me….I suggest calling a local tech support specialist and pose them the question. I just post issues that I come across and how I fixed them. If my fix doesn’t work for you…..then there’s nothing else I can do for you.
Congrats Ashley Foster!
to whom it may concern, my steps are ending at number 7. after documents and settings/ there’s no user, application data/microsoft/internet explorer.
So I can’t fix the problem yet. Would you have an advice?
Kind regards berend van meerlo
This is excellent. I also got similar error. I tried all your steps (including the Regedit as given. It worked out well.
I really Don’t know what to do
Thanks Piyush the REGEDIT way worked for me BIG THANKS
Thank you very much! It fixed my issue.
Hi,
I have been having the same problem for days. I tried the first set of directions removing desktop.htt. This did not work for me and my other issue is that when this all happened it took off all the liks on my start menu. I don’t have a run link anymore. Does anyone know how else I could try to fix this issue. I may be beyond fixing it myself and have to bring it to a PC repair man.
Thanks for any suggestions
Denise
trying to get active desktop recovery off my computer for 2 weeks, Nothing
I do works, WHAT IS REGEDIT? Some of you have mentioned, Please tell me,
This is making me lose sleep HELP!!
Betty V.
Betty,
Go to “Start” then “Run” …in the box….type regedit and hit Ok
that’s how you access regedit
I would be very careful using it if I were you. If something were to be deleted that shouldn’t be deleted, you’re computer might not properly work anymore. Just Google it and do some research.
Thank’s for the warning about REGEDIT, I’ve tried everything on google, about
ACTIVE DESKTOP RECOVERY, To no avail, I’ll keep checking.
Betty V.
To James Hill
“it should be on your C: normally” –> this is your “C” drive.
To b.van meerlo
“documents and settings/user/application data/microsoft/internet explorer”
Should be
“documents and settings//application data/microsoft/internet explorer”
where is the name that you use to sign in with.
HTH
To James Hill
“it should be on your C: normally” –> this is your “C” drive.
To b.van meerlo
“documents and settings/user/application data/microsoft/internet explorer”
You should be looking for
“documents and settings/[username]/application data/microsoft/internet explorer”
where [username] is the name that you use to sign in with.
HTH
Maria
I have the same problem. i have been trying everything i know to solve the problem. Originally i thought i had 2 desktop. and i was trying to find out how to just make it one. Because when i turn on the computer while it’s booting up, i see the desktop with it’s background, the task bar at the bottom with the necessary buttons, the only thing i don’t see are the icons i have on the desktop. then i get this other desktop screen comes up with all the icons and a white screen telling me to restore active desktop recovery. i just tried the first method, nothing happens, i tried the regedit method. i don’t know what to say, i still have the 2 desktop screens, the first is the same as i describe earlier and the second screen is blue with only the icons in the background. can you help me. i’ve tried everything.
I wish there was a way that i can show you what i mean, if it’s possible i can record on my digital camera how the computer boot up and email it to you. that way you can see what i’m trying to describe.
Pappionme
This solution does not work I can do besides this?
carlos
Google it
[…] Re: Problem with desktop See if this helps: Active Desktop Recovery - Object doesn’t support this action […]
I have done several searches and have no Desktop.htt in any files including hidden. Any other suggestions??
it takes me six hours to start up my laptop and when i fannaly get to my desktop their is no start menu and when i hit that button nothing happens does anyone out their no what i should do?
it works, greatt and thx for posting the tips.. I googled on “Active Desktop Recovery” and landed on ur page directly
No Problem Karthik
I had same active desktop problem I followed the fix but even though Ichecked show h idden fils I could’t find desktop. htt I searched entire computer for it. no luck. Now what?
Excellent tip. Couldn’t find the Desktop.htt files but the registry change fixed the problem for me.
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!
it was easy to understaind and very usefull!!
If you are having problems finding the Desktop.htt file, check:
C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
Mine was in there. It was Desktop.htt, not desktop.htt, although I dont think that matters on Windoze.
hi,,,,,
i will do this all the things,butwhen i reboot my system again its still error, it could not be remove. i am delete all the internet explorer file from the c drive, which i am recently visit. but its still error.i think its will be anothers problem. so do you have a any some others steps to solve this kind of error.
Hi,
This really worked for me. I was having this problem from last 3 weeks.
I could able to solve the same with this.
Wherres do I do a search for desktop.tt?
Hi
I have been having the same issue with the active desktop recovery…did the search thru the hidden files and desktop.htt is not there ran a search for just desktop and found 3 empty desktop folders and i cannot do the regedit says my system admin wont allow it… lol this is my home pc so i would be the admin. Any idea what i should do next? Any help u could give would be great
Okay just writing back to let u know that i downloaded a program called spyware doctor and it cleaned my pc out i had a trojan called desktop hijacker as soon as the program finished i had my desktop back the spyware program is approved by google…but the only way to get it for free is to also download a few google programs which so far arent so bad.
Piyush, you are a genius. your tip worked for me too! finally! thanks alot
Thanks Cubicle, thanks Piyush.
The regedit solution worked great for me.
Thanks again.