Cannot Move Files/Folders on Desktop

One of the Mac Pros in my computer lab suddenly developed a strange behavior: I can't move any of the file or folder icons on the desktop, nor can I drag files/folders between windows or columns. They don't snap back to their original position; they won't move at all.
I can select the icons on the desktop and in windows, but cannot move them. This behavior is the same in my Admin account and a restricted student account.
I've repaired permissions with Disk Utility, and run Onyx (Optimize The System; Execute Maintenance Scripts; Clear: Application, Internet, Font and System Cache; Clean Recent and Temporary Items). I've relaunched the Finder several times, and zapped the PRAM. Restarting doesn't help.
Anyone seen this before?
Thanks,
Robert

Robert B wrote:
I'm unable to start from the Install disk; I get the "Black Veil of Death" every time (You Need To Restart Your Machine...).
Oh, well this is very much more serious than a permissions problem. I would tell you to Repair your disk, but
I can Safe Boot and choose either account. Except for the non-moving icons, the machine seems to run fine.
A Safe Boot automatically runs Repair Disk as many times as needed to fix things. Trying to start from the Install disc gives you a kernel panic, and yet you are able to Safe Boot? I don't know what could cause this.
After a Safe Boot, and in my Admin account, can I affect the changes you suggest when starting from the Install disk?
Well, not by the method I initially suggested, but you can using Terminal. But I see no point in doing that—you really need to fix the kernel panics.
However, as a temporary thing, try this.
Open the Terminal (from /Applications/Utilities) and copy and paste the following into the Terminal window, one line at a time, with a return after each line:
chmod -R -N .
chmod +a "everyone deny delete" . Desktop Documents Downloads Library Movies Music Pictures Public Sites
chmod +a "`id -un` allow list,addfile,search,delete,add_subdirectory,delete_child,readattr,writeattr,readextattr,writeextattr,readsecurity,writesecurity,chown,file_inherit,directoryinherit" Public/Drop Box
That will fix things for the account you have logged in with. If you need to fix the other one, you must repeat while logged in to that account

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Sometimes the problem may be solved just by logging out or rebooting. Try that first, if you haven't already done it. Otherwise, continue.
Select the icon of your home folder (a house) in the sidebar of a Finder window and open it. The Desktop folder is one of the subfolders. Select it and open the Info window. In the General section of the window, the Kind will be either Folder or something else, such as Anything.
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Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
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Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
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Relaunch the Finder.
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