Debian 7 Desktop Icons Disappeared Gnome3
A How To get Debian 7 Gnome3 Desktop Icons to display | Gnome3 Desktop is Empty
To enable icons on the desktop:
Press alt-f2.
In the dialog box that appears,
dconf-editor
Configuration Editor appears, choose,
org -> gnome -> desktop -> background
In the Name/Value section in the right panel check
show desktop icons
(click on the box)
Your ‘home’, ‘trash’, and ‘computer’ icons should now reappear on the desktop