Hello,
I removed Norton with add/remove programs when it asked to restart computer
all desk top set up lost cannot start anything
even safe mode start gets nowhere just a dark screen
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Your Desktop Icons Are Missing in Windows XP
Article ID: 330170 - Last Review: February 1, 2007 - Revision: 1.4
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330170
SYMPTOMS
All the icons may be missing from your desktop. However, if you open your Desktop folder in Windows Explorer, you can see your desktop icons in that window.
CAUSE
This behavior occurs if the Show Desktop Icons feature is turned off.
If you upgrade a previous version of Windows to Windows XP, and Show Desktop Icons was turned off in the previous Windows version, this setting is maintained, and user icons appear to be missing from the desktop. The Show Desktop Icons setting is ignored in previous versions of Windows if Active Desktop is turned off. In Windows XP, Active Desktop is always turned on and cannot be disabled.
RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, SIMPLY turn on the Show Desktop Icons feature:
1. Right-click the desktop.
2. Point to Arrange Icons By.
3. Click Show Desktop Icons.
What I did was I play around with the Display in Display Properties (right click Desktop--> Properties-->Settings). Then it all went back... :D