When I use SEARCH and looked for a file, it showed that it was on the Desktop. Yet, I don't see the icon for the file at all on the blue desktop when I start Windows ME. In Folder Options, show hidden files is ticked. What's the reason that nothing is showing on the desktop screen for that file?

RHB, Do the search again, and when it shows in the right side of the search again. Right-click it, and then click properties. What are its attributes? {Read-Only, Hidden, Archive} Also, what is the exact address {location}, it shows in the properties? If you have more than one user, it maybe on there desktop. The reason, I asked for the exact address. What is the name of this file?

You've been a big help! It shows the the attribute of the file (Craig5.jpg)as "archive". It doesn't have hidden or read only ticked . . . just the archive block is checked. How does that happen? I'm puzzled. I removed the check from archieve and looked on the desktop and still don't see the file. What do I try now?

I've had the icons get behind each other for some reason. Try right-clicking on the file in the search window and use "send to" to move it to "my documents" folder or some other location. Then see if it is visible there. Hope this works for you

RHB "What do I try now?" Hmm, answer the other question posed to you, please. That would tell us/you, where it is, for sure. Have another question. You do mean, that you are looking for a file, that is in the desktop {folder}, yes. Not an image, for a wallpaper/background. "How does that happen?" If you are talking about the 'Archive'. It means it hasn't been ba.... let's stick to the original question ;-)

Guess what! I figured out my problem. I went to the desktop and clicked on PROPERTIES. Then I clicked on ARRANGE ICONS BY NAME and voila! there was each of the icons that were shown when I used EXPLORE and could see the files listed in the desktop folder but couldn't see them on the Windows Desktop when I started WinME. I had it set previously on AUTO ARRANGE. That was hiding them. Thanks for all of the tips. I probably wasn't making my question clear but it's fixed now.