lost icons

I restored my windows xp to an earlier date and on restarting I have lost all my desktop icons. I can access the internet through task manager but other than that I can't access my control panel or any desktop icons. Any ideas how I can get them back without losing any files. Cheers Willo.

Go back to System Restore and choose Undo my last restoration.

If that works either try a different Restore Point or describe why it is you are trying to restore.

From the Task Manager you can start System Restore via File > Run

%systemroot%system32 estore strui.exe

Thanks jephree. I tried above but get message saying unable to find that path. Any other ideas spring to mind?
Appreciated, Willo.

Sorry my mistake

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

I tried again and this time got the system restore page. But I can't go back any further than my last restore. I went back to earliest allowable date and restarted but still no icons
Thanks for replying so quickly, willo.

Did you try: Undo my last restoration?

No, bull in a china shop here. I just went back to the last allowable date and tried restore. I realise now I should of pressed "Undo my last restoration". Just tried again but no luck.

If it said it completed undoing the last restoration perhaps trying again will undo the previous.

If it did not indicate success (system could not be restored) then we move on.

Try booting into Safe Mode options:

After the power-on and BIOS POST or your Logo screen repeatedly tap the F8 key or hold the Ctrl key before Windows starts.

From here try starting Windows in the Last Known Good Configuration.

I tried Undo my last restoration again but it only undid what I had just restored. tried twice no luck. I'll try safe mode option now .

Tried starting Windows in the Last Known Good Configuration. No luck there either.