Desktop icons won't drag to trash

Question

I'm running 10.3.9 on a G$ MDD with dual processors ... desktop icons are locked in place and can't be dragged to trash. I can trash them using the contextual menu, dragging the icon will not work. It works inially after reboot, but after a few launching an application the icons are locked in place.
Perhaps a permissions issue ?? Any ideas or suggestions ... has anyone had a similar situation occur? thanks in advance for any insight or help.

Answer 1

Can’t open, move. or trash file or folder
1. Select the file or folder in the Finder and from the File menu, choose Get Info .
2. In the Info window, click the Ownership & Permissions disclosure triangle to reveal its information.
3. To fully access this item, make sure that Read & Write is chosen from the You can pop-up menu. If it isn't, you will need to be logged in as an administrator to change your access; skip to step 6. If you used to be able to access the item but now can't, continue to the next step.
4. Click the General disclosure triangle and make sure that the file or folder isn't locked. If the Locked checkbox is selected, deselect it and then try accessing the file or folder as planned.
5. If that doesn't work, fix Disk Permissions; open Disk Utility, select your computer's hard disk volume, click the First Aid tab, and click Repair Disk Permissions.
6. If this is the first time you're accessing the item and you are an administrator, click the lock icon in the Details section of the Info window. From the Owner pop-up menu, choose your user name (type your password when prompted), then choose Read & Write from the Access pop-up menu directly below it. If you're changing access to a folder, click the "Apply to enclosed items" button to change permissions for all enclosed items.
Can't select and drag items.
•I solved the problem by booting in the safe mode, then restarting.
• This solution also works if you can't select and drag items.
george