Desktop Icons Will Not Load

I'm running Windows 98SE on an old 200Mhz desktop. The hard drive, which I use to actually back-up a number of files, has seen many winters since it was defragmented, so I ran the Norton defrag utility.

Now upon a subsequent restart, now I've got a small problem. The O/S runs through the startup normally, but when it gets to the Desktop, the system seems to hang, and the desktop icons will not load. I think I've seen this problem before, but I don't recall what the fix is. I can get the machine to load all the way up (including Desktop icons) in Safe Mode. I'm not sure what the defragging process did, but I can't even invoke my installed version of Go Back (the system says it cannot find a prior point to revert to).

I don't believe this problem is exactly catastrophic, since I can get into Safe Mode, but any quick hints to bring the system back in normal mode?

 

The solution to this problem has apparently been successfully proposed on a parallel posting on the Tech Support Guy (http://forums.techguy.org/) website

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Blue Zee suggested:

Try restoring the registry to a previously successful boot.

First disable GoBack.

Restart and tap F8 to enter the Start Menu and select Command Prompt.

At the C:\ prompt type:

SCANREG /RESTORE (note space between G and /)

Press Enter, select a date just before the problem started.

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Not sure how Blue Zee knew it, but disabling Go Back was in fact the key to making this work. In fact, I'm not sure that disabling Go Back hasn't substantially speeded up that old computer also. I guess it's still smart to go ahead and re-enable Go Back though.