Icons on XP are weird... Help o_O

[Darkness112]

Well guys, all of a sudden i just happened to have a random problem... my desktop icons and any folders or anything for that matter you cant drag and drop. For instance, you click your recycle bin and try to move it, it drags on the mouse but when u drop it to where you want it, it just disappears and remains at its current location. Its doing this for everything, inside folders i cant rearrange icons or any of that sort... anyone know whats going on? Im a newb to computers but i cant figure this out. Thanks ahead of time.

[EzyStvy]

Does rebooting help?

[rjfvillarosa]

How long has this been happening?
What antivirus and spyware scanners are you using?
Have you tried a system restore back to before this started?

[Darkness112]

i thought it would bro, i tried a couple times, so far it hasnt worked. This is really annoying X_X

[Darkness112]

id say its been like this a couple days now, i use AVG Free version, spybot, ad-aware se personal, and ive ran both my adware programs to see if it would help. It didnt work. I also use Trend Micro once in awhile. But im pretty sure i havent ran a anti-virus since this has happened. So im going to try that... but i dont think its gonna work. I have not tried any system restores. And the only one i have saved i think is a LONG time ago. And im not exact when this started happening.

[rjfvillarosa]

What about a repair/install of XP after making sure your machine is fully clean of any malware?

[Darkness112]

how would i go about doing that? Do you mean reinstall all of windows?

[jayb1234]

Although you have not created any restore points lately, windows will automatically create them every day or two. Take a look, they will say "system checkpoint", and will be on the dates on the calendar that are highlighted.

[rjfvillarosa]

It is almost like a reinstall, you follow the usual procedure for formating the hard drive and reinstalling windows but when setup analyses the hard drive it detects a previous installation of XP and gives you the option to repair it instead of the format and install. During the repair, setup deletes and reinstalls all of the windows system files leaving all of your personal files and settings intact, all you have to do is install all of the windows updates again and any SP1/SP2 updates.

[Darkness112]

hmm so maybe i should try to go back on a windows restore point first, and if that dont work... ill try reinstalling windows. Ill need my systerm restore disks for that wont i?

[jayb1234]

Nope. Just go to Start-All Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Restore. Check "Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time"- hit next-pick a highlighted date before the problem and hit next. It will take a couple minutes, will reboot, and let you know if it worked.

EDIT: OOPs misread your post, yes you need the disk for the repair install.

[Darkness112]

yup the system restore did the job, who knows what was doing it in the first place, but now its working. Thanks everyone i appeciate it.