Did you look in the RECYCLE BIN ?

If you can still open everything  from inside the folder,  it sounds like you didn't actually lose anything at all - you just moved something and the shortcut couldn't find it anymore.  Right click on the one that works, click "Create Shortcut", and you can put a new shortcut back on your desktop.

Yes, I tried my recycle bin but I am so thorough, I empty my bin everyday. What the problem is I can't open my photoshop program with my shortcut. It comes up files lost. I only can open it through my documents. thanks for the reply

No that did not help.  Thank you! When I click the application to open a message comes up "cannot start the application due to missing file or files". Please re'install. When I go to my change/remove program I click change and it tells me I will lose my whole photoshop files if I wish to remove and re'install. The only thing I can do is download pics to a disc and go for it. I have tried everything else.

DO YOU THINK ANY OF THE "FILE RECOVERY" DOWNLOADS MAY HELP?

I have tried everything! I even tried to re'install and it won't let me. I am so lost. Haven't had my computer very long and self teaching is not easy! Any more suggestion? Thanks bunches!

I'm not an expert on Photoshop but as a rule when you delete/reinstall an application it does not affect the files/folders you created with that application, only the application itself.

All Programs - Accessories - Windows Explorer - click Search - follow instructions.

 

If the files are there Windows Explorer should find them.

Edit - wasn't paying attention - system restore obviously didn't work.....

ok, I tried the search before and only came up with part of the files. the problem is I cannot open the program itself without re'installing it. If I re'install, I lose all my photos and data. I can't download to a cd because I cannot open the program. CATCH 22! Any other suggestions? Thanks for the help!