ok thanks for the help :)

Thanks :) Is there a way to restore all windows instantly?

Found a temporary fix.
http://www.northcode.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1365&postcount=6
EDIT::
It seems windows+m doesnt minimize the clock =o.
Any way to restore stuff minimised with windows+m???

Firstly, not sure where exactly this should go (feel free to move it! but please tell me where it goes if its moved).
Programs (hopefully only these): explorer, notepad, command prompt.
Wished filetype (if possbile): bat or scf (possibly exe).

Okay, so I am sure you are all aware of what 'Show Desktop' does: what I want to achieve is a button that minimizes all windows (shows desktop) and then brings one particular executable (which can be alt-tabbed to) to the foreground. I've given this a go, and asked around with my techie friends and they hit a brick wall as well. Not sure where to go from here so I came here.
OS is xp (64 bit).
The purpose for this is to have a clock that "stays on top" of the desktop without intruding other windows :)
Thanks in advance! 

Firstly, to answer your question, I do not have them on dual boot :)
On with the other stuff: Thanks for the help squeezebox, unfortunately I tried this yesterday with both the dlls in the cab file I have, and ones from a working computer with the same version of directx9.
64-bit Windows seems to have the habit of replacing files in system32 that do not match(?) those in syswow64.  I'm thinking about trying to reinstall directx in safemode, or just leaving it as is.
As far as I am aware (for what I am currently using my computer for) there are no problems occurring bar the installation of a few image-editing programs (eg Corel PSP X3)
EDIT: I've got a week-off coming up, so I will try reinstall directx9 in safemode and provide feedback :)

What 64bit DXDIAG puts out:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/18/2008, 16:49:56
       Machine name: CRISPX
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (5.2, Build 3790) Service Pack 2 (3790.srv03_sp2_gdr.070321-2337)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: System Product Name
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 1026MB used, 2939MB available
        Windows Dir: D:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.3790.3959 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

UPDATE: followed instructions, and computer is now up to date (thanks for the help)

However, Dxdiag still shows the wrong versions and has a yellow /!\ next to a few files when its running in 32-bit mode 
These files are ddraw.dll, d3d8thk.dll, dinput8.dll, dimap.dll, pid.dll, dsound3d.dll, dsdmo.dll, dsdmoprp.dll - problem does not exist when running in 64-bit mode.
Can edit for screenshot if needed.
Not sure what the yellow /!\ means, (guessing it means 'wrong version'). I checked file versions in syswow and system32
system32: ver 5.3.3790.1830 Size: 421 KB (431,104 bytes)
syswow64: ver 5.3.3790.1830 Size: 276 KB (283,136 bytes)

Any help with this problem ? :(

EDIT: Comes up with dialog - DirectX Diagnostic Tool:
DxDiag has detected that there may have been problem acessing the system information the last time this program was used. Would you like to bypass the system information this time?
EDIT:: Got DxDiag to save what was going on to help
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 3/18/2008, 16:43:10
       Machine name: CRISPX
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (5.2, Build 3790) Service Pack 2 (3790.srv03_sp2_gdr.070321-2337)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: System Product Name
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4200+ (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 1033MB used, 2932MB available
        Windows Dir: D:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 8.1 (4.08.0001.0810)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.3790.3959 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: Several files (ddraw.dll, d3d8thk.dll, dinput8.dll, etc.) are old versions, which could cause problems.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: The registry information for the service provider 'DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider' is missing or damaged.  You should reinstall DirectX. The registry information for the service provider 'DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider' is missing or damaged.  You should reinstall DirectX. The registry information for the service provider 'DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider' is missing or damaged.  You should reinstall DirectX. The registry information for the service provider 'DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider' is missing or damaged.  You should reinstall DirectX. Problems were found in the system registry.  Details are available in the saved text file.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

Next Post will Show what 64-bit shows

I installed SP2 straight from the SP2-integrated DVD, so I am guessing they were there. I just installed a bunch of updates I have on my "start from scratch" dvd, and the problem is still there.
Can you point me in the right direction of these critical updates?

Reinstalled XP 64-bit SP2 (three times), and installed .net framework, and then DirectX 9.0C.
The problem is installing certain packages that need directx 9.0 or higher (eg, paint shop pro x3).
I investigated on the matter, and it appears that windows thinks my directx version is 8.1. Interestingly, if I swap to 64-bit DxDiag it says that the version is 9.0c  . Ive tried reinstalling DirectX.
Is there a way to easily uninstall directX and then reinstall it? (it might fix the problem).

IF ON XP PROFESSIONAL:
Start -> Search -> appwiz.cpl
Run it. See if the error occurs still.
If it does, not sure.

As a temp solution, you can remove programs just as well using CCleaner 

Funny thing, there are two accounts and yet the new account I made (to try fix a corruption) is regarded as the principle account.
I am currently logged in as 'Administrator', wanting to delete 'Crispy'. I can delete other accounts if I make more.
If worse comes to worse, is there a way to auto-login on the 'Administrator' account?
Accounts
Deletion

Thanks again 

my computer doesn't seem to have the sys restore files on it (rstui.exe etc). So I am guessing there will be no restore points(?)   
EDIT: Got a temp solution by making a custom Control Panel folder filled with shortcuts in C:
EDIT:: Off topic: my desktop (if anyone is interested in seeing it  )

Thanks for the help. My temp solution will be good enough until the next reformat I think :D

OS: Windows 64-bit SP2
I was editing my theme by hand today, (explorer.exe and luna.msstyles only using a hex editor) and I got everything up fine, and then I went about changing some icons.
When I changed my icon for my control panel
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\DefaultIcon]
to a particular .ico file, my control panel stopped showing the usual icons.
I've tried restoring the original icon, and replacing the .cpl files with ones from other computers in the house, but to no avail.
My XP cd is scratched (but still readable... but its very slow), so I am wary about going to it for solutions.
I do not want to reinstall windows.
I am (kinda) confident that all files are not corrupt (having opened them by hand) and all registry files (that I know of) are in place.
Tried most things I came across on google (none of them worked - or the things were already fine).

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/9458/ctrlpanelza5.jpg
^ What my control panel shows.
Any suggestions?
If people have run into this and are certain that the xp disc will fix this then i'll do it. Otherwise I am not too keen.
Not willing to reinstall at this point.

Thanks in advance!!