[X Newbies] My iBook seems out of control

[Clive Read]

My iBook with Mac OS X seems out of control.

Almost all the files on my Desktop have 'disappeared' (are not 
visible), though they are there if I look through 'find'. How can I get 
them back?

ALSO

In 'mail', it used to be ME who chose which messages I read, but - 
suddenly - the messages are opened as soon as they become the next in 
line. It defeats the process I had of leaving all messages marked as 
'unread' until I had time to read them.

Thanks in advance

Clive

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Rev Clive and Ann Read, on Spain's Costa Blanca   clive at cliveread.com