Start by doing this:

Download, install, update, and run this program. Delete all "Critical Objects" it finds. Post back with results.

http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button

Thanks for the reply Maxd. Did as suggested. Was already using Ad-Aware SE personal. Got the newest definitions (05-06-2005) and reran. Did not change anything. Then ran Spybot, no change.

Check the "Device Manager" (by holding down the Windows key and press the Pause|Break key then click on the "Hardware" tab and then Device Manager) for colored marks-yellow or red. There shouldn't be any. Let me know one way or the other.

Then uninstall the app that won't start from the desktop shortcut, reboot the system, and then reinstall the app. Post back.

Note: Something is causing explorer to crash and reset; the disappearing icons/taskbar suggests the resetting.

Again, Thanks Maxd. I am at work right now (dayshift) and will continue with computer when I get home.  I did notice something new. When I restarted last night, the software for the cordless keyboard and mouse (iTouch) gave me a message about not starting right and needed to stop/shutdown. Then I noticed that the little symbols in the lower righthand side of the screen for CAPs lock and NUM lock were gone. By right clicking on the icons that have been giving me trouble, then telling it to explore instead of open, several did ok. I ran out of time last night and think I will see if I have the disk and reload iTouch tonight.   Thanks again.

Device Manager looked ok. No checks or marks of anykind. Reloaded the iTouch software, fixed the error message and the NUM/CAP light in the task bar but did not help current problem. All of the shortcuts on the desktop work, it is the apps on the desktop that cause the blanking out. Right clicking on the icons and then selecting explore rather than open does ok. The app opens fine.

Thanks.