I am using Inkscape since 2008. Since then I have updated Inkscape at least twice. Now I need to reuse some of my old work, but I cannot open any of my files (all svg) older then 2010.
If I try to do so, I get an icon in my taskbar, but if I click it nothing happens. Newer files open without problems.
I am using windows XP.
I tried the following things:
- I restarted my computer and tried again.
- I removed Inkscape and I installed the latest version of Inkscape (version 0.48)
- I removed my preferences file
- I tried to import the old files into a new one. That works, but I loose the document settings and all the objects in invisible layers.
What can I do to solve this?

Welcome to the forum!

I have a similar problem sometimes, if I use the "Restore" size window button in top right corner (right beside the red X Close button) to have a smaller window. Although I'm on Windows 7. Or at least it sounds similar.

Have you looked around the edges of the screen to see if they are for some reason opening somewhere off the screen?

If I recall, in XP, you can right-click on the taskbar icon, and it gives you choices to Restore, Maximize or Minimize? Have you tried those?

That is it! They open nearly completely off screen. It is hardly visible, but if you look for it, you find them. Many thanks!

I'm glad that worked for you! I was going to suggest that you install an older version of Inkscape, (but keep the newer version too), that probably would have worked too. If you have a bunch to open and it's a hassle this way, then you might want to consider it. I've have that problem before too.
For some reason, after installing one of the later versions it put a padlock on each file, but it does still let me open it, go figure...