WinXP SP3 updated 11/1/12
When I open the program the icons on the desktop start flickering and are
not 'active'
The one click icons on the task bar are active and if I open a few programs
with them after a while the
desktop icons stop flickering. I did a System Restore to no avail and
updated my video driver.
I unplugged and replugged all connections.

Same thing happens when I boot into Win 7 on a separate internal HD but I
can't stop the flickering icons
there.