Re: Desktop shortcuts rearranged automatically with restart

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

ASinger,

The Desktop icons layout are preserved in the following registry key (Tip from David Candy):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

It is possible that one of the REG_BINARY values got corrupt. Try resetting the values using these steps:

Note: First, create a System Restore point, even though the following procedure does nothing to the data. Save all your work, close all the running applications and then try this:

1. Open Regedit.exe minimize it.
2. Click Start, Turn Off computer.
3. Press and hold the CTRL, ALT and the SHIFT keys, and click the Cancel button.
4. Now, the explorer.exe process will be terminated fully.
5. Switch to Registry Editor window, and navigate to the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

6. Rename the key "Desktop" to something else, say "OlderDesktop"
7. Close Registry Editor
8. Press CTRL + ALT + DEL to open Task Manager
9. Click the Shutdown menu, and select "Logoff <username>"
10. Relogin again, customize the desktop icons placement.
11. Restart Windows and see if the icon positions are retained.

Credits to:
David Candy, jeffdav's blog (The CTRL+ALT+SHIFT technique is from jeffdav)
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/07/22/191636.aspx

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


"ASinger" <ASinger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:18245C99-28F5-4F07-8E74-572FEAE4B79E@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have Windows XP running on a pc with three monitors. I have about 30
desktop shortcuts arranged strategically based on the work I do on each
monitor. Very often when I restart the pc (where monitors are still powered
on) or shut down completely and power back on (where monitors are powered on
first), my shortcuts are moved around the desktop. It then takes me several
minutes to set things back up the way they are supposed to be.

Auto Arrange is not enabled. No screen saver. Using Windows Classic Style
appearance. Resolution 1280x1024.

In looking at my Display properties now, I just noticed that Run Desktop
Cleanup Every 60 days was enabled. I just disabled it. Does anyone know if
that could have caused the problem? It has happened at least 4 times in the
last two weeks, so it doesn't seem like it should, but maybe.

Thanks for any feedback. 

.

Quantcast