The update in question was for MS Office 2003 which has now been deleted but the problem persists.
Start\run\regedit just removes all the icons on the desktop for a few seconds and they then re-appear.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks

cf. your original thread in OE General newsgroup: http://groups.google.com/group/micro...3a8472d1cd4a98

I'd very much doubt that installing the Office (OL) updates had anything to do with the inability to access/use Regedit.

There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a hijackware infection!

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had expired when the machine first got infected and/or your subscription has since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually: http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan (only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be: http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested logs in an appropriate forum, not here.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0, http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22, http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or other appropriate forums.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
"atandhmb" wrote:
The update in question was for MS Office 2003 which has now been deleted but the problem persists.
Start\run\regedit just removes all the icons on the desktop for a few seconds and they then re-appear.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks