Hi all... thanks for your tips and help. The desktop is now displaying ok. However there are still nagging problems: 1. The task bar lower left hand side icons are showing icons with no associated programs. Trying to reset the properties of the task bar is of no avail. 2. Outlook is starting ok except it is now popping a window with some jibberish (a line of small squares). Closing this takes you to a word file with change of Global template yes or no stuff!!
I have now created a new account and transferred all my files. Also another problem as cropped up in the new account which was also showing in the old account --- web addresses referenced from within an email are not accessible? Perhaps I will create a new thread.
Cheers.