I see no way to update my original post, so I am replying to it. 

After posting, I rebooted my PC and when it came back up, the desktop was restored.

The following information may be useful to developers: I actually installed version 3.1.3.3 yesterday. At the end of the install, when Fences asked me if I wanted to reboot, I said no.  Since I always shutdown at the end of the day, I figured the update would be completed the next morning, when I started up my PC.

But today, when I started up my PC, I had the problem described in the original post.  Rebooting restored the desktop.

So maybe the Fences update assumes that you reboot immediately after the update, and since I did not do that, the update was not completed -- until I rebooted today. 

Of course I have no solid proof that this is a Fences problem.  But since updating Fences was the only System change that I made yesterday, it is highly suspect!

Hello,

I have the exact same problem as jisner described.  Fences worked fine until I upgraded to Fences 3.1.3.3.  Was in the middle of another project when it asked if I wanted to reboot at that time.  I said no.  Today, when I rebooted the PC, nothing was there.  Blank screen, and as jisner described, not even the recycle bin is available.  I have rebooted several times, but to no avail.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Info:

Fences version: 3.1.3.3.

PC:  Lenovo ThinkPad T580

OS:  Windows 10  21H1