Desktop shortcuts icons have disappeared

[johnhenry]

The icons on the desktop shortcuts have disappeared. (Or are these thumbnails?) Just the shortcut title is showing on the desktop and clicking them performs the correct action. shell:AppsFolder doesn't show any icons. Also they are missing from File explorer when viewing Tiles etc.
Perhaps more serious is that when right clicking a shortcut and selecting Properties nothing happens.
I have followed online advice like deleting the icon cache, deleting the icon files, running sfc, running chkdsk etc.

 

[john steadman]

have you tries right click on the desktop click "view" make sure "show desktop icons" is ticked

 

[johnhenry]

One of the first things I did. The desktop shows only the titles of the shortcuts and if I uncheck 'show desktop icons' they also disappear and return when I check it.
Thanks anyway