Destop icons programme

Bacon_Sandwich_3

Hi, can anyone tell me which programme is used to open desktop icons please.

My daughter has messed her laptop up by somehow right clicking an icon and trying to open an icon by i think explorer and looking at it i think the bottom option where make all accessible this way was ticked,so none of the icons work now.I hope this makes sense and thanks for your time.

bingo_bango

Explorer.exe is the app that shows all the desktop icons and applications.

Bacon_Sandwich_3

where there used to be individual pictures for each icon on desktop or on start/all programmes there is now just an E (the explorer E) and she can no longer open any of the programmes in any of them.I can't even system restore it as it just tries to connect to the web rather than open restore.When i right click on an option,then open with ????? what should be the open with programme the computer should be useing?Thanks again.

Llyllyll

Afternoon,

Apologies but your posting doesn't make much sense to me, however it sounds like it COULD be something to do with new new (horrible IMO) XP start menu.

Right-click on a blank area of your taskbar -> Properties -> Start Menu [TAB] -> [Select] Classic Start Menu -> OK.

Just a thought...

albertross_2

Try a system restore:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/systemrestore.mspx

Bacon_Sandwich_3

Its not the start menu itself.I tried what you said,thanks.

If you look on either the desktop or the start menu you have lots of icons for the various programmes.ie start/all programmes /accessories/system tools / etc. When i do it on mine they all have their own icon that will take you to which ever one you choose.ie system restore.On my daughters laptop all she has now is an E then the name (ie the explorer E-system restore)

She somehow has got all her icons to have the explorer E trying to open all her programmes.

bingo_bango

Oooh.....she seems to have set explorer to open all file types. Methinks albert is right.....system restore to resolve that one. Otherwise it's sitting down and respecifying the program used to open each file type manually.

albertross_2

Try:

Ctrl Alt Del
task manager
new task
c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui
restore to a date before it went wrong

Bacon_Sandwich_3

albertross wrote:

Try:

Ctrl Alt Del
task manager
new task
c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui
restore to a date before it went wrong

Thanks for your time i have tried to restore it on many different dates but it wont complete restore for some reason

Bacon_Sandwich_3

Is there a way i can change the short cuts etc back to file folders instead of LNK?

I just did a test on my desktop and where you right click and look at properties on mine it says

Shortcut tab -

Target type - File folder

Target location - desktop

Target - c:\documents and settings\owner\desktop\spyware

on my daughters it says

Target type - Application

Target location - Spyware Blaster

Target - c:\programme files\spywareblaster\spywareblaster.exe

albertross_2

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

see Internet Explorer Desktop Icon Fix