Tell us the operating system we may need it should the thread go on.

1 Try rebooting the computer first.

2 Do a simple System Restore, Click start > All Programs > look for Accessories click it now look for System Tools click it now look for System Restore, choose a restore point.

You can undo a restore point should you be unsatisfied with the results.

Do you have your system set to automatically install Windows updates? I ask as I have previously heard this concern before, and the expected cause was a negative by-product of an update install. At the time, the remedies suggested by Zep resolved the concern.

DA

Yes, I do have the system set to auto install Windows updates, and there were some updates just recently. I also rebooted twice, so now I will try zep's second suggestion.

My operating system is Windows XP.

Thanks.

Okay, I tried the system restore. There were two options...."restore to an earlier time" (the default selection ) and "create a restore point". I tried restoring to Sept. 29 and even earlier to Sept 23. I keep getting a message saying the system cannot be restored to those dates.

Am I doing something wrong, should I select "create a restore point"? and if so, what would that point be? Thanks

you are doing it right you want to restore to a time prior to the problem happening.

You need to run a malwarebytes scan because an infection can also cause your symptoms plus make your system restore points not work.
Downloading and installing Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware on a Windows computer * Anti-Malware * download * install

Was the restore point in blue and sort of inset with larger numbers? You have to use the restore dates that are there, not just any date.

If you haven't created a restore point before this, create one now. However it will not help you with this because you cannot go back to a day before the restore point was created.

If the program was not affected you can create new icons. Try clicking on the program in --start--all programs and see if it comes up. If it does then go out and click on start again. Go to your program and click once to highlight it then go to the little side page that has the icons and drag them to the desktop

maybe right click the desktop and unhide icons

Thanks mikie, that worked and so much easier.

I started running the malwarebytes program but didn't get any of the pages that the UD page said I would. Hope it is not still running on my computer.

But I have my icons back now anyway.

Thanks all.

UD? Are you running distributed computing with United Devices? Just curious as I had 3 machines running 24/7 there for over 5 years.

what do you mean you did not get any of the pages on the linked page? if you downloaded and installed malwarebytes you should have seen each of those images as you went thorugh the install, then the instructions link at the bottom of the directions page shows what you will see as you run the program, what did you see? Did you go through the download and install of malwarebytes?

It is a great free program and personally I think it should be on every pc, updated and run weekly.

Owbist the page I link to with the great directions is created by UD university of Delaware.

Ha ha, thanks for clearing the mystery RC