Taskbar and desktop help needed

I have a problem that my windows explorer shortcuts are
instead throwing up a new taskbar every time i click on
them - other shortcuts accessed through the start
bar/task bar also throw up similar errors and I often get
other errors such as: windows cannot
find '/idlist,:1140:1620,' when clicking the control
panel link for example.
Also, I have what i can only describe as the common tasks
pane as you get in windows XP view for folders,
permanently and immovably etched over a third of my
desktop area.
Any suggestions on how to solve these issues without
resorting to a clean install would be most apreciated.
Please send an email with any suggestions.