I have develped a horizontal line across my monitor, when not in a
program. In other words the line is there when I look at my icons.
Once I am in a program the line disapears.

Hi opaul22,

The following links might explain what the horizontal line is on your desktop.

TekTips
http://www.tek-tips.com/gviewthread.cfm/lev2/66/lev3/68/pid/749/qid/734574

Experts:  Monitor Problems
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question406.htm


Why are there 2 fine horizontal lines on my monitor? 
http://www.taxan.co.uk/crtfaq.htm#3

This is explained in the user manual. On a Trinitron or Diamondtron
screen, there will be either one or two very thin, dependant on screen
size, horizontal lines across the screen. These are called tension
wires, and are present in all Trinitron and Diamontron CRT's. It is
down to the technology of the monitor, and not a fault.

Viewsonci Support
http://www.viewsonic.com/support/qa.cfm?topic=crt&question=07


http://www.maginnovision.com/b_files/faq22.htm

Best regards,
tlspiegel

The above comment is right; they are probably just part of the
hardware.  They are likely tiny wires that help your monitor have a
flat screen.

If they are really not there when you're in a program, though, then
they might just be drawn on your wallpaper.  Try changing your
background to see if they go away.