The icons on the desktop

[Curmudgeoness]

don't look right---they are just blocks. And nothing will open. And if I try to turn it off by moving the cursor down to "start", it gets stuck and will not respond. The computer has to be closed by holding the off button down. When it was turned back on, I opened it in "safe mode" and did a quick scan with Avast, and no infections were found.

What the heck happened? What do I need to do?

[steve2470]

1. I would try one more antivirus scan in safe mode

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage

This comes well rated. Be sure to disable Avast first, before running this one.

If that doesn't do the trick, please let us know.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. Can't do it.

Since that computer will not connect to the internet, I can't download any program. At least, I don't know how I would.

If I figure some way to get that program on the computer, should I do another quick scan, or a full scan?

[steve2470]

3. a full scan

I'm guessing you have data you need to save, so that's of primary importance.

eta: If you can download AVG from any computer, you can save it on a USB drive or a floppy disc. Then you can copy it to your *possibly infected* machine and perhaps install it.

[Mnpaul]

4. Have you tried this?

Hit F8 when booting and select "use last known good configuration" instead of safe mode from the boot menu.

[Alan_Silverman]

5. Good idea

Last known.
Al

[Curmudgeoness]

8. OK, that worked. Is there something more I should do?

Does this have to be done every time now, or do I have some way to fix it, or is it now fixed?

[Mnpaul]

10. Great to hear

You can set a new system restore point so that it goes back to that point if it happens in the future. In XP it can be found in Accessories->System tools->System Restore

It will give you the option of setting a restore point.

If it was just a glitch, it shouldn't happen again. You may want to scan your computer with MalwareBytes Anti-malware to make sure. http://www.malwarebytes.org/ The free version works fine.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Dang it. It wasn't just a glitch

and malwarebytes did not find any infected files. I'll take it to a computer tech. Probably something simple, but not simple for me.

Thanks for the help.

[Mnpaul]

12. Just did a Google search

Do you have a lot of icons on the desktop? The icon cache may be too small or corrupted

Rebuilding the icon cache in XP
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1202726,00.asp

Vista
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/how-to-rebuild-the-icon-cache-in-windows-vista/

[Curmudgeoness]

13. Not much at all on the desktop.

This is a newer computer and is used mostly for emails and web searches.

I will see if any of this helps.

[Mnpaul]

14. Then you shouldn't need to increase the icon cache size

just delete the cache and rebuild it

[Curmudgeoness]

15. I am close, and I thank you for getting me there.

I followed your instructions to go back to the time just prior to an update on Tuesday (since Wednesday was when the problem started). I screwed up and did not tell the computer not to do automatic updates, and when I shut down, it again installed that update that is the problem. So I did the same thing again and also told the computer not to install any updates. So, for now, we are fine and I just have to figure out what to do about MS updates.

Why is life so difficult! But really, thanks. I have a working computer, at least.

[Mnpaul]

16. If you know the specific update #

Google it with "update# problems"

Chances are good that someone else had the same problem and a solution will be found. You can also try the Microsoft site if it doesn't come up in your search.

[Curmudgeoness]

17. Great suggestion. Thanks. nt

[Mnpaul]

18. That is the way computers are repaired today

There is no possible way for a tech to know every fix. If you don't know the answer, Google it.

[Curmudgeoness]

19. I ran into the IT guy at work

and told him of my problem in simple terms. He said it sounded like an update problem and said he would rather shovel shit the rest of his life than to be one of the people who wrote code for the MS updates, since there are so many different issues with different computers and software and hardware, ad nauseum. I see his point.

[steve2470]

6. did your machine live to fight another day ?

[Curmudgeoness]

7. We will see soon.

I just got home from work and will have to try things in a little while. I will try that F8 fix first, then try to get virus scan saved on a flash drive and see it that works. I'll be back if nothing works----or take it to someone who isn't computer illiterate and (gasp) pay them to fix it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. Thanks for your help.

The F8 worked.....just need to know if there is more we have to do now.