Computer desktop question

[LwnmwnMan2]

Can anyone tell me why my icons on my desktop change??

Usually there was a lightbulb for the icon for FishingMinnesota, but now it's an icon for a different HSOforum.

Same thing for other websites. They're not the usual icons, but rather icons from different websites???

[Scott K]

Have you tried erasing your cookies?

[DTro]

If the icons have changed on your desktop, whether physically appear different, or are linking you to strange sites, you've more than likely been infected with some sort of virus.

[BoxMN]

I've seen that back in win98 days. Icons for programs as well would do the switch. As mentioned, get a spyware and malware app and run it fully. Also make sure you have enough memory, and that you aren't having a ton of apps running in the background (i.e. things you most likely don't even know about, like MS Office Manager, Quicktime, Real Player, etc.). Each one on its own doesn't take much, but all together they eat memory and make your computer do goofy things. Especially if you got a basic cheaper computer with an integrated video chipset, and didn't put in additional RAM.

Also, make sure to do regular Windows updates.

Good luck, on my WinXP Pro I have not seen this, but on my other 98 machines in the past it would happen when I didn't do good enough house keeping.

[Valv]

Also try not to save Bookmarks on your desktop. Put them in the Favorites or Bookmark folder and use that instead of desktop icons, they DO slow down your system.

[LwnmwnMan2]

So far I've run my Ad-Aware and my virus scan.

Deleted all cookies, temp internet files and browsing history.

I've deleted the affected shortcuts on the desktop and redid them.

The Fishing Minnesota icon is back to the original lightbulb, but Google is still a big "W" and hsolist is something like a globe in a garbage can.

Usually they're what the little symbol is in the address bar at the top of the screen.