No icons on bootup

Hello,
On bootup I get desktop only, no icons, nothing. I put my comp away for awile because of the problem, and after try booting up again, using cntrl/alt/del to bring up task manager. I run msconfig, because for awile it would only boot in safe mode. In ms config selective startup is selected and I cannot deselect, it says not addmin level, although I am. Also under /boot.ini tab, /safeboot is selected, and I cannot deselect it for the same reasons.
In task manager, it shows under processes, everything running thats suppose to, but there is nothing on my screen. ANY SUGGESTIONS.