desktop link unaccessable

[sknyer]

Desktop links sudden dead. Reason not known.
Win98 SE optg. system.

what may be the reason and how can I restore all links for desktop program icons?

help pls:o

[Toejam31]

Could be a virus. Have you updated your Anti-Virus files lately and run a full system scan?

Toejam31

My Rig: Toejam31's Tantalizing Tantric Toy (http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?rigid=6847)

[Tuqan]

Update and run your Virus program. When satisfied with that I would then repair the registry. You say you have 98se so the means to do this is pretty straight forward.

Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Information\Tools\Registry Checker.

If you've never done this before, here you will get a pause which is normal and its duration works hand in hand with the speed of your machine and the amount of software presently loaded. When this test concludes if there was a problem discovered it will let you know and take you through to the next steps. If all is good here then I would try....

Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Information\Tools\System File Checker

Selecting this option can be tricky and is not truly for the novice because you can cause some drama here if you don't know what you're doing but fortunately it's fixable. This option checks your system files for alterations/corruptions since last they were installed. The problem here is that if you are like most of us you have gone to Windows Update and updated your system numerous times. System File Checker does not know that. It compares what is installed to that which is in the original CAB files in your Windows\Systems\ directory. Of course if you updated since the original install then you will get a flag that this file or the other has been changed or altered, but then there is an option for you to ignore this flag if you know that this particular file has been recently updated. Again, if you are like most of us then you don't have a clue as to exactly what file has been updated by Windows Update at all and are now looking at the screen wondering what to select. My rule of thumb is to replace every file that has been flagged with the orignal CAB system file. Why? Because it is a simple matter to update again if need be. Better that than to ignore the warning that a file is being indicated to be changed in some way serious enough to get this attention.