I'm not sure this is a non MC problem. Sorcha with no buttons to push is a genuine 'cat'atstrophe.

It sounds like everything runs except the icons?

First step in any sudden/unexplained change is Virus Scan. We'll assume you did that - or will immediately.

Most likely cause for loss of icons is corruption of the file(s) desktop.ini, that holds the "configuration settings" for the desktop. Unfortunately, it's a "hidden, system" file that can be a little elusive to track, especially since multiple versions may seem to be in several places. The "real" desktop.ini is a shortcut to entries in the "registry," but you may have several "shortcuts to the shortcut" scattered around - including a "hidden icon" on the desktop.

I was thinking that you use WinXP, but I see that it's ME. I don't have an ME system to look at, but it should be close enough for the following to be applicable.

In most Win versions, you can go to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs, and find a "Change Windows" or "add/remove Windows components" selection of one sort or another. (In some Windows versions there may be a "repair windows" button in this path.) This is where you would normally check or uncheck components of Windows if you wanted to make changes. If you don't change anything, but go ahead and run the "next" and "finish" buttons, Windows will often rebuild corrupted .ini files. It's a relatively "safe" thing to do.

If it finds something significant, it may ask for your installation CD/disk(s), but it doesn't usually if you haven't changed anything before you hit the "next" thingy.

A second possible cause for this icon thing could be installation of a driver file that's not "good" on your system. (The most likely thing, even here, is that it corrupted your "ini" file(s) when it installed itself.) It's one of the risks with all of the "Flash," and other "Media" programs that sites are always asking you to install "to enjoy their site." Sometimes you get an old/wrong version component.

XP and Win2K make periodic backups of your registry, so you can do a "system restore" to put an older registry back. I'd suggest going to the Help file that's on your "Start" list and looking at the procedure for your system before proceding with this one. Be aware that it can make anything installed since the registry file was saved quit working. (Open help and search for "system repair" or "system restore" or just "restore.")

The system restore thing is a pretty good "fix," but does carry some risk that recent changes (including any "new" icons you've added) may go away. You may want to give the 'cat a while to see if someone else has "personal experience" with this before running it. I see from one of the posts that crept in while I was looking things up that you may have already run this, but a check with the help file may still give you some clues about getting to "the last good version."

John