missing network Icons and seach not working after sp install

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

After installing windows XP SP2 on several different and varied equipment,
the network icons including dialup, lan, and wireless connections disappear.
Everything seems to function but I have no way of changing ip addresses.
This has happend on Dell Laptops, Sony Laptops, Dell and Gateway desktops.
I have gone through all the info on the kb article 825826 with no luck.
As a side note, on all machines that this happens too, it seems that the
"Search" functions quits working as well. You can click on it and the
window just disappears.
What is really baffling is this doesn't always seem to occur right away.
Sometimes you can install the sp and it's fine for a while but then,
possible after some other automatic updated, eveything is gone.
I have been unistalling sp2 but now I am getting machines right from the
manufacture with sp2 already on and now way of removing it.
Also, this seems to be the case on Windows Server 2003 with SP1 as I have
expirienced the exact same simptoms.