No repsonse from desktop icons and control panel

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Guest

The otehr day I turned on my PC, running XP Professional, to find a number of desktop icons gave no response when clicked. My dial-up connection didn't respond for example. Alsothe Outlook icon on Quick Launch toolbar did not work (and when I looked at the shortcut property the word 'Recycled' had been added to the target). I went into Control Panel but most of the programs would not respond - eg User Accounts. Some like Printers did work. I had to resort to a System Restore to get back to where I had been a couple of days earlier. Things then seemed OK, but today I switched on my PC and the problem had reoccurred. Again I did a System Restore, but I am worried that the fix will be temporary - and I have no idea what is causing the problem. Any ideas gratefully received.
 
Hi Tony,

Have you done a scan using an updated antivirus with the latest
definitions?

Also consider getting software against malware, such as:

Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Spybot S&D
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download

Finally, look at the following articles for advice about
troubleshooting start up problems:

308041 Resources for Troubleshooting Startup Problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308041

310353 How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353

316434 HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434

310560 How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

The msconfig utility will help you; if you disable all non-Microsoft
software and then boot, does the problem appear?

If not, try enabling them one or two at a time to find the guilty
program.

Hope this helps.
 
I am having the exact problem! I can't open the control panel and double clicking on any folder including mydocuments etc. does nothing. I get the hourglass for a few seconds then nothing. There is nothing in my task manager. I can open programs though?!?! My games work, ad aware all that. Just not anything to do with explorer. I've run up to date virus scanners and adaware and spy bot and all that but it makes no difference

Please help

Sam
 
DId you have any luck. I am experieincing the same peoblem? My e-mail is (e-mail address removed)

----- Tony wrote: ----

The otehr day I turned on my PC, running XP Professional, to find a number of desktop icons gave no response when clicked. My dial-up connection didn't respond for example. Alsothe Outlook icon on Quick Launch toolbar did not work (and when I looked at the shortcut property the word 'Recycled' had been added to the target). I went into Control Panel but most of the programs would not respond - eg User Accounts. Some like Printers did work. I had to resort to a System Restore to get back to where I had been a couple of days earlier. Things then seemed OK, but today I switched on my PC and the problem had reoccurred. Again I did a System Restore, but I am worried that the fix will be temporary - and I have no idea what is causing the problem. Any ideas gratefully received.
 
Look at your proseses and see if anything is using more than 50% i had
one using 99%, i used a program called hijack this to remove it and
all was fine.

Do a control alt delete and end explorer.exe then try to load your
apps, you wont have a desktop anymore but you know where you exe's are
for your programs, could be a good idea to place some shortcuts in a
directory on your c:\ drive to make it easier to fine them.
 
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