Icons & Start Menu Programs Gone

[Guest]

In my Start Menu the list of my programs has disappeared (it appears to be
looking at a different folder) and nearly all of my regular icons on my
desktop have also gone. The programs still exist so what has happened, how do
I restore. HELP!!!

 

[Guest]

I have a similar but worse problem as my desktop has completly disappeared.
I am left with photograph of my Grandchildren but not an Icon
I can use task manager to run programs
If I right click properties etc do not appear
However I am now running this on Safe Mode
ThUs I join you in waiting for solution before I chuck the laptop in the bin.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Graham,

See if a System Restore rollback helps:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx