This started yesterday - when I double click on a desktop folder, the screen goes blue then the original desktop with icons and wallpaper reappears. If I do this a couple of times I'll get a white screen with a message regarding going back to the active desktop. Program icons work fine. I can access programs in folders thru the 'start menu'. Oh yes - if I click on 'search' in the start menu I get the same results as clicking on a desk top folder. So is the problem viral or some mysterious setting? I've run Ad-aware, Spybot, Eusing reg cleaner AVG - they have found and eradicated problems but not this one. Appreciate any help. PIIIUser

try disabling active desktop... FLATURIN - Hand-to-mouth goodness. It's good!

Thanks for the suggestion. Disabling the active desktop did not make a difference in the ability to open folders. I do note that if I start in safe mode then I can open folders as before! PIIIUser

Success! Using SuperAntiSpyware got rid of a number of dubious items and now I can open folders on the desktop. So it was a viral type infection and not a tweaking of some setting. PIIIUser