Long shot, but, try a different keyboard. Flickering icons usually occur
just after boot-up [XP] as the desktop refreshes for the first time after
successfully loading all the desktop icons. I don't know of anything else
that would cause the desktop to refresh like that, and continuously, except
for the [F5] function-key. Pressing the [F5] key forces a refresh of the
desktop (when no other application has focus) and a "stuck" [F5] key would
cause the symptoms you describe.

One other theory, rare program installations, whilst active, or certain
connected hardware, may interfere with the system in a similar fashion -
try to remember when this effect began and what programs were installed /
hardware or peripherals added, that might have made this difference. Try
disconnecting any recently connected devices / uninstalling the last
program installed...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Ron Patterson" wrote in message
m...
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.