Icon of program: Desktop Hijack Fix

Desktop Hijack Fix for Windows

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Key Details of Desktop Hijack Fix

  • Protect your Windows desktop, wallpaper, and desktop settings from crash.
  • Last updated on
  • There have been 1 updates
  • Also available on
  • Virus scan status:

    Clean (it's extremely likely that this software program is clean)

Editors' Review

Download.com staff

When it comes to software, the desktop is the best neighborhood, and nearly every piece of software tries to move in there. Some merely set a shortcut, but others "do things," often things you don't want and, worse, can't undo.

You have several options for restoring your desktop settings when software hijacks them, most of which aren't difficult but nevertheless often prove challenging to those users who really don't care what's "under the hood" of their computer any more than they do their car or their washing machine. For them, Random Rhythm's Desktop Hijack Fix offers a fast, simple, and free way to restore a damaged or corrupted desktop. It can also back up your desktop settings.

Desktop Hijack Fix has an ultrasimple interface with only three buttons: Restore desktop default settings, Backup current settings, and Remove policy restrictions, with a message indicating whether desktop policies were currently enabled. Since there was nothing wrong with our test system's desktop, we opted to back up our settings before proceeding. We pressed the button, and a pop-up advised us that our settings had been backed up. A new button appeared on the desktop labeled Restore backup settings. We clicked Restore default backup settings, and our background color and wallpaper disappeared, replaced by the default Windows blue. However, our icons didn't change, nor did our taskbar settings.

The back up settings button let us update our stored settings to the current, default desktop settings. Next we clicked the button that removed our desktop policy settings, a more serious step that removed several policies, but our desktop suffered no ill effects. So far, so good. Next the acid test: restoring our original, preferred settings. We clicked the button to restore our settings, and Desktop Hijack Fix put things back the way they were, including our wallpaper slideshow.

This fast, simple freeware can cut through your desktop issues with a few clicks, leaving you with default settings and an opportunity to start again with a clean, fresh desktop. Run it before you try any software that monkeys with your desktop. When something happens, and it will, you can fix it with Desktop Hijack Fix.

What's new in version 1.4.1

Version 1.4.1 added system tray icon and compatibile with Windows 7.
Icon of program: Desktop Hijack Fix

Desktop Hijack Fix for Windows

Download now

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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
1.4.1
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Windows
Operating System
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 10
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows XP
Additional Requirements
None
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
26,356
Downloads Last Week
1
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User Reviews

3.6/5

8 User Votes

Developer's Description

By Random Rhyhtm
Protect your Windows desktop, wallpaper, and desktop settings from crash.

Desktop Hijack Fix can be used to fix most problems in which your normal background is not displayed. Usually in the backgrounds place there is another image or website which has hijacked the desktop. You can use Desktop Hijack fix to restore default settings for your desktop and remove any changes that had been made. You can also use this tool to remove policy restrictions associated with malware.

It can also be used to backup your current desktop configuration to be restored later if you choose to not restore the default settings. During running operation this tool has been designed to alert you if you desktop or related settings have been hijacked based off your previous configuration. If malicious software has been indentified the tool can quarantine the virus file.Desktop Hijack Fix has the ability to scan for and remove policy settings that may have been imposed by malware. When malicious software hijacks your desktop it may put policies in place to keep you from undoing the changes it has made and prevent you from removing the malware itself. This includes preventing access to the display icon in the control panel, task manager, regedit or even the whole control panel.