DavidR
4
Have (or did) you another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
What other security based software do you have that might block new startup entries, e.g. Spybot S&D (TeaTimer), AdAware (AdWatch), SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor (StartUpGuard or OnGuard), PrevX, WinPatrol, ProcessGuard, etc. ?
Not being able to uninstall usually means a failed or corrupt install, possibly associated with the above. However, as you have had yours installed for some time I doubt that is the case.
I remember the marathon problem you had with an infected system and I wonder if there isn’t something else in the mix here.
Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here and save it to your HDD. Now uninstall, reboot, run the uninstall utility, reboot install the latest version of avast, reboot.
Hopefully that will restore your icons, if not we may have to look deeper.