I've got a desktop shortcut which just won't open, I click and the egg
shape timer appears then nothing. All the other icons open no problem
and I've tried uninstaling and instaling and 2 system restores but
sill no joy. It used to work perfectly before but not any more!!!

I've even deleted some programes which I thought might be effecting it.

The programme is Dreamweaver and all the other macromedia programes
work, can anyone shed some light on this problem.

(I've turned off the firewall as well)
And I can't see any other programmes running in the backround.
But when I go to log off and windows is shuting down then the programe
starts up but at that stage its too late and the computer logs off or
if I shut it down it shuts down.

It sounds to me as if the package is popping up a MessageBox, but one
that you cannot see, perhaps it is off screen, or maybe it is some
sort of dialog and the software is starting minimized.

When you go to log off, Windows pumps shutdown messages at all running
applications, that would dismiss the MessageBox/Dialog and allow the
package to start.

I would suggest trying to start Dreamweaver via Start Key Programmes
etc, if it behaves normally then there is something fishy about the
Desktop Shortcut.

If you get the same effect, then scour your screen and taskbar, it is
possible that (as some Apps do) it is starting as a Toolbar or
minimized .. or in the system tray.

I don't know Dreamweaver, but some Apps 'remember' their close down
state, which can be confusing - especially if one has lowered the
resolution of the screen.

I've also seen some processes halting other processes.  Something else
to try is to open the task manager and start closing processes singly.
 Try to open your program after each process.  If it finally opens,
google the last process you closed and you will find the offending
program.  F.Y.I. - There will be a small list of processes called
svchost.  A certain one of those will prompt your computer to shutdown
upon closing, but it doesn't harm anything.

Thanks for both your commen't they both heped. But the root of the
problems appears to be systematic updates running in the backround,
even though I have'nt used the troublesome norton anti-virus in 2
years just shows what a hinderence  it is. AVG all the way for me.
 
So for anyone else delete anything to do with norton.

Norton is incredibly hard to get rid of.

Only an idiot (as I was) would install it
- shame, they used to be brilliant