applications do not execute desktop nor base start menu

Dear Colleagues,
From many locations, double clicking an application's icon does not start that application.
Double clikcing a FrontPage 2003 or Acrobat icon on desktop does not start FrontPage or Acrobat. From the Start Menu, clicking on any MS Office application does not start the application.
However, clicking on an MS Office application from within the subdirectory "Microsoft Office" as displayed off the Start Menu does start the application.
I generally have to open files by double clicking the file, rather than clicking the application's icon displayed on the desktop or on the root of the Start Menu.
Perhaps this has to do with execution permissions and locations of the .lnk files. I've disabled User Access Control, and my account type is administrator.
Thanks very much!
Lightfoote Dell Opliplex GX 280; RAM 2 Gb DDR 533; SATA 80 Gb; Intel 3.2 MHz Processor; ATI FireMV2200PCIe with video RAM 128 Mb; Rating = 3 (only!)

Try recreating the desktop shortcuts that don't work. That is, delete any shortcut that isn't working. Then go through the menu to get to the icon you normally click to start that program. But don't click it. Instead right-click that icon and choose Send To > Desktop (create shortcut). Can't guarantee it will work because I haven't had the problem you're eperiencing. (All my desktop icons work just fine.) But it's worth a try.
"Lightfoote" wrote in message

Dear Colleagues,
From many locations, double clicking an application's icon does not start that application.
Double clikcing a FrontPage 2003 or Acrobat icon on desktop does not start FrontPage or Acrobat. From the Start Menu, clicking on any MS Office application does not start the application.
However, clicking on an MS Office application from within the subdirectory "Microsoft Office" as displayed off the Start Menu does start the application.
I generally have to open files by double clicking the file, rather than clicking the application's icon displayed on the desktop or on the root of the Start Menu.
Perhaps this has to do with execution permissions and locations of the .lnk files. I've disabled User Access Control, and my account type is administrator.
Thanks very much!
Lightfoote Dell Opliplex GX 280; RAM 2 Gb DDR 533; SATA 80 Gb; Intel 3.2 MHz Processor; ATI FireMV2200PCIe with video RAM 128 Mb; Rating = 3 (only!)

I'm having the same problem with programs on the Start menu, either programs I have pinned to the top portion of the Start menu or ones that have been recently run. Sometimes they will run when clicked, and sometimes they won't. I have tried the solution you suggest and sometimes it helps, but not always. This is a little annoying.
"R.U. Zerious" wrote:

Try recreating the desktop shortcuts that don't work. That is, delete any shortcut that isn't working. Then go through the menu to get to the icon you normally click to start that program. But don't click it. Instead right-click that icon and choose Send To > Desktop (create shortcut). Can't guarantee it will work because I haven't had the problem you're eperiencing. (All my desktop icons work just fine.) But it's worth a try.
"Lightfoote" wrote in message Dear Colleagues,
From many locations, double clicking an application's icon does not start that application.
Double clikcing a FrontPage 2003 or Acrobat icon on desktop does not start FrontPage or Acrobat. From the Start Menu, clicking on any MS Office application does not start the application.
However, clicking on an MS Office application from within the subdirectory "Microsoft Office" as displayed off the Start Menu does start the application.
I generally have to open files by double clicking the file, rather than clicking the application's icon displayed on the desktop or on the root of the Start Menu.
Perhaps this has to do with execution permissions and locations of the .lnk files. I've disabled User Access Control, and my account type is administrator.
Thanks very much!
Lightfoote Dell Opliplex GX 280; RAM 2 Gb DDR 533; SATA 80 Gb; Intel 3.2 MHz Processor; ATI FireMV2200PCIe with video RAM 128 Mb; Rating = 3 (only!)