Windows Vista ALL left-side icons gone

There was an automatic update waiting for me when I logged off, so the computer went through its updating procedure, restarted itself, and ate ALL of my icons down by the orb. Yes, the desktop icon that y'all helped me restore plus four others, POOF!

msconfig > startup has "normal startup" checked.

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And so fooling around thinking I could fix the problem, I have now lost the icons that were on my desktop (recycle bin, open office, Judy-documents, and Zoom Browser). They are totally missing... This is why you don't hire a dog trainer to work on your Hummer.

 

When all else fails, "system restore" to the rescue.

All is back in place now. I can't understand WHY this happened, but I guess with computers it's best not to know. Like how sausage is made...