No access to desktop icons

HELP!
I seem to have lost the ability to view my desktop icons.
e.g. I right click and create a new folder - nothing happens!
So I go to Windows Explorer and navigate to Desktop and I can see the new folder but switching back to the actual desktop - nothing is there.
I'm half way through a virus scan but nothing has been picked up yet - I'm using AVG Pro
Thanks in advance

Edit: Additionally I can't use my mouse to draw a drag and drop box

Fixed: I must have knocked a setting and now have it working
to fix it i:
Right click on desktop > View > Show desktop icons

The strange thing is this has happened again and I'm sure this time I did not change any settings.
Could this be a bit of a bug?

Have you tried hitting F5 to refresh your desktop when this occurs? Occasionally I did notice Windows 7 Beta would stop refreshing the desktop forcing me to do so manually with the F5 key. I wouldn't know why it does that though.

Thanks but....yes tried that but the only way to get my icons back is to:
Right click on desktop > View > Show desktop icons

I'm not too sure if it's just my system
So I thought I'd ask to see if anyone else had the same problem?

I had a suspicion it may be the wife but she's not owning up to it & besides she's fairly literate with the computer.
Thanks anyway

i do miss the Desktop quick launch icon.

Running W7 RC.

if you click to the right of the clock (or mouse over it) it will show you "show Desktop" messg.

Click to the right of the clock and wala........ see attachment.

Right click anywhere on the taskbar will give the show desktop option aswell