vanishing desktop

Today my desktop started disappearing (XP Home). If I click on "Show the desktop" (task bar), it reappears, but if I open anything (folder, application) or click on "Show open windows" it immediately vanishes again.

I've run the usual malware applications, and done a registry clean (with Registry Mechanic) to no avail. Rebooting doesn't help. A system restore to yesterday's version appeared to solve the problem for awhile, but it recurred again after half an hour or so.

Any ideas?

... Doug

 

I think I would run sfc /scannow to replace any missing files or folders. Have your HP disc ready.

 

Nope, file check ran fine. It was apparently something with the user settings, as I noticed that if I logged into a different account, the desktop remained intact.

So I did a Sytem Restore to a couple of days back, and so far, so good... fingers crossed.

Very disconcerting, though. Windows is way too mysterious for its own good.

... Doug