Distorted Windows Icons and Toolbars

[Guest]

Hi,
I have XP SP2 and everything was running fine until this week when I noticed
that icons on the desktop, taskbar, tool bars and application dialogue boxes
were being distorted or blocked out by fuzzy white and black vertical lines
over or around the icons or OK / Cancel type buttons in dialogue boxes.
Sometimes systray icons disappear altogether but are still there.

Seems to be affecting Windows only as any application generated graphics or
text is fine but application dialogue boxes are affected. It is random and
hovering the mouse pointer over them sometimes clears it but it will return.
First manifests itself during boot up when it is quite pronounced across the
Win XP logo.

All Win XP and Norton IS 2005 updates applied religiously and fully up to
date. Full virus scan shows nothing. Last two changes of note (within the
last two weeks) are adding a second user login profile and installs of PC
Tools Spyware Doctor / Adobe PhotoAlbum 3 / Crystal Reports XI / Ad Aware Se
Personal.

Sorry to be detailed but its a weird one - any help appreciated.

 

[John Wunderlich]

I have XP SP2 and everything was running fine until this week when
I noticed that icons on the desktop, taskbar, tool bars and
application dialogue boxes were being distorted or blocked out by
fuzzy white and black vertical lines over or around the icons or
OK / Cancel type buttons in dialogue boxes. Sometimes systray
icons disappear altogether but are still there.

You might try rebuilding the icon cache. To do this:
1) Right-click on desktop, select "Properties"
2) Click on the "Appearance" tab, then click "Advanced"
3) Under "Item:" select "Icon"
4) Change the size to the right of "Icon" one size bigger
5) Click "OK" to close all windows.

Then repeat the above procedure to set the icon size back to the
original size. This should rebuild the Icon Cache and may solve your
problem.

HTH,
John

 

[Guest]

John,
Thanks for the advice but the problem is still there - some desktop icons
are all but disappearing. Have taken a screen dump I can mail if that helps
show the problem clearer. Deleting and redoing a desktop shortcut makes no
difference.

Any other suggestions welcome - might try uninstalling SpyDoctor in case
that is a factor. Just don't want to get into a Windows re-install!

Cheers,

Brian