Quick Fix: Black Desktop Background and Lost Icons
Just a short post for any of you that encounter the same issue I just did. I booted up this morning (Ubuntu Linux 8.04 – Hardy) and logged in, no problem. But my desktop background image (the wallpaper) had disappeared, along with my desktop icons. Also, the desktop background was all black. Rebooting did not fix the issue.
At first I thought it might be the nVidia drivers, but that was not correct because everything else worked (looked) fine. I did notice that if I right clicked on the desktop, nothing happened – No menu, no pop-up. If I selected System -> Preferences -> Appearance and then the Background tab, I was able to add and select several backgrounds but they did not display on the desktop (it remained back).
The issue turned out to be with Gnome/Nautilus (not Ubuntu/Linux). I began to realize this when I stumbled into this thread: Gnome desktop icon disappeared. In general that thread suggested restarting Gnome and perhaps restoring the a backup of the Gnome session file (I didn’t have a backup of that and restarting the system did not work). The gem was one of the last comments that referred to Nautilus . I didn’t think Nautilus would be the fix here – but it was!
On a lark, I decided to restart Nautilus with the following command in a terminal:
killall nautilus
For those not familiar with the above command, you may find this link helpful: Linux/Unix Command: killall. Suddenly my desktop wallpaper was back, as were my icons!
So… for any of you experiencing the same issue, hopefully this quick fix will save you hours of surfing or otherwise searching for a fix.
Cheers! :)
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This site is intended for users, looking for solutions, fixes, tweaks to get things working just they way they should. User experiences are all here along with other helpful information for the new and experienced Linux (Ubuntu) user. 
i would please like to know what do mean when you say nautilus because i am on an accer running on windows vista so can you please help me
@guy man – Nautilus is like Windows Explorer and a bit more. Sure it facilitates a visual listing of files, etc. but it also can use scripts to enhance, change, etc. it’s functionality. This link might provide you with some helpful information: http://www.ghacks.net/2009/02/03/get-to-know-linux-the-nautilus-file-manager/
Hopefully this answer helps you. – Cheers!
@Oriol
alt+f2 is not a terminal, it’s a “Run application” applet. To open a terminal in Ubuntu Linux 8.04 access terminal via your Gnome menu like this:
Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal
As mentioned, alt+f2 is not a terminal, but you can access terminal after the alt+f2 combo by typing
gnome-terminalin the available text field (that you’ll see when the “Run Application” applet opens up).I hope this helps you. :)
It worked!!! Thank you!!!! :) :)
Thanks for your fix. My problem was a little different. A black stripe had appeared above the background image. I could not eliminate it via the background dialog. The top panel could appear there, but if collapsed would leave a trail of garbage. Also, any window moved into and out of the area left a trail of its title bar. Very strange. But “killall nautilus” restored my background to its proper size and behavior. I was about to re-install Ubuntu, but you saved the day!
@James Joyce – Thanks, nice to hear! Hopefully, the new Ubuntu 9.04 will have better control. I’ve reinstalled Ubuntu a few times in the past because I could not figure out how to change (fix) something. Cheers to you!
Good job. I’m having the same problem but I dont know how to open a terminal, alt+f2 doesnt work.
I’d like to kill nautillus :/
Thanks :)
Yeah i know alt+f2 is not a terminal :P I mean , I could not open a terminal in any way.. I had no menus ..
Anyway, I couldnt solve the problem by killing nautilus ( in fact i dont know if it was running .. ) so i ve reinstalled ubuntu ;(
@oriol
Eeek! Are you using Jaunty? If so, maybe it’s a bug? See here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gconf2/+bug/328575
If so try this command in the alt+f2 “Run Application” instead:
gnome-terminal -e "sudo -i"(I’ve had to do reinstalls a few times now).
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ killall nautilus
nautilus: no process killed
Now what?
@jordanwb
Now your black screen will be fixed. If not, you may be experiencing additional (and other) issues as well (which contribute to the problem.
Hi. Just installed Ubuntu 9.04 and manual installed Gnome and I have the same problem:
http://i27.tinypic.com/2vjeres.jpg
I have followed your tips and the output is:
nautilus: no process killed
The screen is still black.
@Rebeliant
Looks like you make have another issue. You don’t have nautilis running or in use?
It was Ubuntu Server edition. I installed it many times + Gnome and was fine. At this time not. Just reinstalled to newest CentOS and I’m happy ;-). Thanks for answer.
searched, found, read, executed, fixed
all less than 10 seconds
Thanks
I have a similar problem with 9.10. I can’t see my background or icons unless I switch the login manager to failsafe Gnome. Otherwise it is all black. Your solution for killing nautilus didn’t work.
I have a feeling this is something very simple, but can’t for the life of me figure it out.
I have same problem ,it worked with
killall nautilus
But during the subsequent login the screen is black again…i was wondering if there is a permanent solution to this problem
The mentioned method doesn’t solve the problem on Ubuntu 9.10.
The only way I find after googling, was to turn off the visual effect in Appearance preferences. I don’t know why I am not able to have the visual effect without having that problem.
Reza’s solution is what worked for me as well.
Visual effects > NONE
Same problem – missing my screen – but also missing icons. I can see the top and bottom gnome panels, and use the Applications menu, as well as the System menu. However, I cannot use the Places menu. I select anything in Places, and the cursor spins for 15″ or so, then reverts to the arrow, but there’s no navigation window. Any clues? Running Ubuntu 9.10 on a Dell Inspiron 1150 laptop.
@Ralph
Maybe there is a permissions issue? Maybe a script changed permissions? Maybe a config file is corrupted?
i lost all the icons on desktop. i cannot open pen drive & dvd also. i using centos 5 ….please help me…
I solved a similar issue.
But I am using Xubuntu 9.10. I posted the solution in Spanish.
Cheers! :)