I have been having an issue with desktop icons not working and the programs refusing to open. This problem is present in programs such as Adobe CS4, Microsoft OFFICE Suite, and even the simpler built-in accessories, such as the calculator and Paint.

At first I assumed I had attracted a nasty LITTLE virus into my system, but after running all of the appropriate software, there were no problems or viruses detected.

This issue is only affecting one desktop on my Windows XP- the others seems unchanged and can open and run all programs just fine. HOWEVER, the desktop that is corrupt is the one in which the majority of the office work and programs is stored on.

I have searched the internet high and low to find a solution, or even a cause for this, and have come up empty.

Anyone?

What happens when you double-click a desktop icon?
Do the programs work if you open them from the start menu?
Good point...

There is a feature in TweakUI that repairs broken icons...

It's FREE.Hi there,
              One thing to check is that a single click actually highlights the icon on the desktop as if not you may have had someone try to fool about on the PC.

Someone may have taken a screenshot of your desktop and then set it as a wallpaper and HIDDEN all the icons, as an amusing prank.

Not that I've ever done anything like this to anyone i know... 
Thanks all for answering. The icons don't even "display." The image for the original program icon is gone, and in its place there is an icon of a piece of paper with an even smaller image of a box with a blue bar at the top (a mini version of a web browsing page). When I click on them, they do highlight, and when I right click, I get the "Open" option, as well as the others, properties, rename, delete, etc. When I click "Open," it brings up the "choose the program you want to open the program with" box, and it gives a few options of programs, but nothing I could open it with, if that makes any sense. It wasn't a screenshot- I remember the day this happened I was web browsing and it happened then. I don't know if there was a virus running in the background for weeks and it finally really got me good, or if there was a correlation between the webpage I was on?Aha, this sounds like a virus or spyware has been on your machine and broken .EXE associations.

Please see the foloowing link for the steps to perform to fix it.

http://filext.com/faq/broken_exe_association.phpThank you! Will try your suggestion. Appreciate the help!