Desktop program icons will not open when clicked

[micron50]

sometimes after I open a program a later can't get any desktop icons to open unless I restart the computer.

 

[ksiemb]

sometimes after I open a program a later can't get any desktop icons to open unless I restart the computer.

Same program, or any program.

Have you run scans for infections ?

Have you tried to restore Windows to date when everything was ok ?

Have XP CD to repair-install the OS ?