Just to report back on an earlier post.
I completed a thorough scan (with archive scanning) on my WinMe system with the avast beta release 4.8.1178 and the quick launch icons survived the experience.
Well this looks like it's only affecting 98 S.E for sure, thanks for the update.
It's not really a major problem for me as I don't run too many manual scans, and as long as I have it real time online scanning then that's fine with me.
The good thing is I can do a manual scan for a file shell extension, and the icons stay put, it's only if I have the main skin open and run from there that this icon issue occurs, but more importantly, it's not just pertaining to the quick launch icons, it affects the toolbar links and windows folder icons too.
I have read other 98 users that have experienced the same problem, however I would be glad to hear of any users of Windows 98 S.E that do NOT experience the icon disappearing act.