have found how to clear cmos in mobo manual
it suggests to move jumper for 20-30 secs before returning it to original position. -- is this the period you suggest to extend to 10mins, OR do you mean - after it is returned, before i reconnect power supply?
I suggested to wait 10 min just to ensure a good cmos clear, this should have been done when the machine was first built, this won't hurt the machine but the bios could get its signals crossed so to speak so,,,
Turn off the computer and unplug from the wall outlet, move the CLRTC jumper to pins 2&3, remove the battery, wait 10 minutes, replace the battery and move the CLRTC jumper back to pins 1&2.
This method will ensure a good cmos clear.
Go directly into bios, on the advanced tab highlight "cpu configuration" and press enter, find "AMD Cool N Quiet and disable it.
Now highlight the exit menu then "load setup defaults" press enter, a confirmation widow will appear select OK.
Now still on the exit menu, highlite "exit and save changes"
This could correct alot of problems not so much the windows problems ( icons and task bar items) but the slow boot and ram problem.
When this gets running correctly and I am talking about the ram problem you should reinstall windows because of all the problems and changes. There are alot of problems here and most are a windows thing but we must get the hardware to run stable before we worry about windows. I think this all started with the ram and changes made, freezes,reboots and all that stuff and now windows is somewhat corrupt.