My desktop went berserk

I ran my Adaware, Spybot, etc. as usual last night and cleaned my free space with Window washer. When I turned the machine back on this AM. I can not get my desktop shortcuts to work. For example when I click on My COmputer the hourglass comes up for just a second and then disappears but does not open. Some of them that are folders I can right click and the hit open and they will open correctly but just a double click has no effect. If I go start, programs, etc. they are all there and I can load them. But .... without being able to open my computer I can;t get to my auxillary drives or programs or folders that are not on the start menu from the start button. I did a system restore and a cold start with no effect.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Jim in WV

 

If you have a windows key between the ctrl and alt keys on the left, use it like a shift key, i.e. hold it while you tap e and you'll get to explorer, which includes my computer.

 

Thanks for the help!

I was thinking maybe I had some spyware or a virus that turned on active desktop or something and was lurking there. When I get home from work I will go after the problem. Would it help me to post a HJT log? I am not really good at all in the registry but perhaps someone could spot it if something was not supposed to be there.
Jim in WV

 

Thanks for the suggestions

One of my students (Hacker) said that when CleanDisk was cleaning the free space on D the reference was still set to do IE history on C and wiped out the folder where IE puts history. He told me to Get IE running and it would rebuild the folder. I run Firefox but IE is still resident. I did it and it seems to have fixed it. Strange stuff!

Jim

 

I agree

I can't see any connection either but it worked. I have run all the spyware stuff I have and my virus scan and all seems OK.
It doesn't balk at all now and as soon as I opened IE and navigated to a couple of nonsignificant sites and closed it the problem went away. I had spent some anxious time worrying while at work ( I am a teacher) and then a 12 year old told me what to do.... makes you just sort of go HMMM?
Anyway thanks for the reply and help!
Jim