Shortcut arrow icons gone after Windows 8.1

Just wanted to report that my issue still isn't fixed since I got a reminder email about this question.

Small update:: Just found other people on this forum having the same problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-desktop/problem-with-desktop-shortcut-arrow/3768e2fe-26a2-466c-af46-df7ea815fc0f

Hi Johnny,

I tried to reproduce the issue, but the desktop icons are working fine in my computer. So we will try some more steps.

Let’s start your computer in safe mode and check the functionality. Safe mode is diagnostic method in which basic display drivers will load when you start the computer. This will help us to find if graphics

card drivers are causing issues.

Refer this link to start the computer in safe mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

I tried Safe Mode and there the issue doesn't occur on shortcuts on the Desktop. However, opening a folder on the Desktop in Safe Mode that contains shortcuts still doesn't show the shortcut arrows on the shortcuts in that folder.

I did some testing and came with the following conclusions:

1. There must be more than 1 shortcut on the Desktop
2. The bug happens only on the first shortcut counting from top to bottom. Sometimes it happens also on shortcuts that are right after the first one.
3. The bug does not occur when enabling the option to let Windows immediately go to the Desktop after logging in. You have to boot into the modern Start Menu first and then click the Desktop tile to let the bug happen. Maybe that's why Safe Mode doesn't have that bug since it immediately brings you to the Desktop.

My first row of pictograms is as follows, maybe you could try to copy this order and see if the bug happens. The bug should then happen on the Internet Explorer icon :

Also, could you try and put a folder on the Desktop that contains shortcuts, then reboot and open that folder to see if the bug occurs on these shortcuts?

I'm starting to look like someone who's really fond of testing minor bugs here :P

Hi Johnny,

I tried to reproduce the issue, but the desktop icons are working fine in my computer. So we will try some more steps.

Let’s start your computer in safe mode and check the functionality. Safe mode is diagnostic method in which basic display drivers will load when you start the computer. This will help us to find if graphics

card drivers are causing issues.

Refer this link to start the computer in safe mode.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

Hi Johnny,

Thank you for the update.

In order to make sure if the issue is not with the corrupt user profile, please login to the different user account and check if the issue persists there. If you don't have different user account, let's create a new user account.

Refer to the suggestions from this link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8

Please reply and update us the status.

I just created a new account and it didn't fix the issue. I think it's a bug that came with Win 8.1 since others also have this. 

Aren't you able to reproduce this? Try my steps in my previous post please (go to the Desktop immediately after reboot and/or open a folder on the Desktop that contains shortcuts).