Cant open files

[simpoet]

Hello,I have a HP laptop and all of the icons are whited out and I cant open any programs . . .could u tell me what to do???

 

[hang-the-9]

This happened when/how? Virus infection that was cleaned out or is still there? System crash? Do things from the Start menu open OK? Can you right-click on the desktop and get to the menus?