All desktop icons selected

I was doing nothing unusual just before this happened.  I'm running NAV 2006 and the virius defs were updated 2/21.  I can run LiveUpdate again and see if there are newer defs.  Why do I have to be in safe mode to run the full scan?

Thanks,
Wayne

In Safe Mode, many of the processes (including many induced by malware) will not start and you get a more complete scan of the files on your computer.
AV is only one part of your protection. None of the current AV applications do a very good job of finding the 'spy-ware' kind of stuff.

Some notes from another forum I work on:
http://rstones12.geekstogo.com/adawareSE_setup.htm

1st Install, run it and Update it.
Then put in these Configuration settings before scanning.
Click on the configuration Windows button.
Click on Scanning, and choose the following settings to:
Scan within archives
-"Scan active processes,
Scan registry
Deepscan registry
scan my IE Favourites for banned URL's
scan my host's file
Then click on Tweaks, go to "Cleaning engine" and set it to:
Automatically try to unregister objects prior to deletion
Let Windows remove files in use after reboot.
Click on "Proceed" to save these Preferences.

Click on the "Scan Now" button.

Good luck and post back anything you find out.
Vic

They may not be selected, only looking like they are depending on if the desktop color is showing through the background. This is all it is if you right click Properties of My Computer. Click Advanced Tab. Click Settings under Performance. Make sure you checkmark Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop.

Jason

I gather I would have to buy Ad-Aware?  I have had unhappy experiences with several highly rated security products over the years.  A few years ago I installed Norton Security Suite; the end result is that it created many problems, some of which never got solved.  More recently, I installed Zone Alarm Sec. Suite on my brand new Dell deckstop.  That too led me into the bushes and I finally uninstalled it.  At the same time I installed Webrood Spy sweeper; again, nothing but problems and I uninstalled it.  I'm a little reluctant to buy another potential bucket of worms.  Besides, I have work to do.  Would your sense of it be that I should hop on this issues right away or would it be reasonable to get something productive done?

I hate this crap.  I say, shoot all the perpetrators.

Thanks Vic,
Wayne

Jason,  Use Drop Shadows was alread checked.  Just for grins, I unchecke it, closed the dialog, went in again and checked Use drop shadows again.  No change; they are still all selected.

Thanks,
Wayne

Wayne,
You are at least second in line (behind me) to shoot the malware writers.
All of the products are truly free.
Ad-aware, CCleaner, and AVG-free are all products I install on the civilian computers I work on.
There is so much junk floating around on the Internet that some kind of bad stuff is bound to end up on your computer unless you are really working to actively prevent it.
Your current problem may only be a simple configuration thing, but unless you get the protection loaded, updated, and get all your scans done, the possibility exists that it is something more.
Make sure you have all of the 'Critical Updates' installed from MS, also.
Ask any questions you have.
I'm off today and just hanging around.
Vic

Vic,
I just ran Win Update; it found no Critical Updates.
Wayne

Have you tried toggling the ActiveDesktop Option in the Display Properties for the Desktop?

Jason

Wayne,
Good answer.
Now consider installing the Ad-aware, updating your AV, then rebooting to Safe Mode and doing a full system scan with both of them.
Delete any of the bad stuff it finds.
Reboot back to Normal Mode and see if the problem goes away.
The cause may have been just an accidental mouse click at the wrong time, but knowing that your system is clean is worth the few minutes time it will take.
Vic

Jason,  where do I go to toggle active desktop?
Wayne

Jason,
There was no Active Desktop item in the shortcut menu you mention.  Guess that means I'm not running active desktop?

In any case, the problem is solved!  At some point in the last couple of days, I had been experimenting with Windows Live Local and had left a link icon on the desktop.  I removed it by doing this:
Start/Control Panel/Display/Desktop tab/Customize Desktop/Web tab.  I then selected and deleted the link.
Thanks everyone for your help.  I'll go back now and figure out how to assign the points.

Wayne S