Desk top icons appear on the desktop but are not functional

Right-Click an open place on your desktop.

Select "Properties"

Click the "Settings" tab

In the box that says "Color Quality" lower your color down a notch from 32 bit to 16 bit and then click "Apply"

Go back to the same place and set your color back to 32 bit or whatever it was and click apply and Ok.

Press the F5 key.

Try your shortcuts on the desktop now.