Welcome guest. Before posting on our computer help forum, you must register. Click here it's easy and free.

Author Topic: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves  (Read 2947 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

jmartin49

  • Guest
Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
« on: May 23, 2007, 12:04:36 PM »
Windows XP Home Edition service pack 2

Hi

I'm hoping someone here can help me with a annoying problem that has recently developed on my system.

Whenever I switch the system on my desktop icons are not in the original places, also my quicklaunch bar is always switched off (I have to go to the TASKBAR-PROPERTIES in order to switch it back on. Also when I re-arrange the desktop to my liking sometimes when opening folders or files the desktop suddenly seems to glitch and then re-arranges itself!

I have tried a system restore but that fails to complete properly, I've run virus scans which are negative. Win XP says it's saving my settings when I turn off, so I'm at a loss as to why this is happening. Everything else seems to work fine.

Any ideas gratefully received

Thanks
Jon

Sid



    Apprentice
  • Thanked: 8
    • Experience: Experienced
    • OS: Windows XP
    Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
    « Reply #1 on: May 23, 2007, 01:05:31 PM »
    What protection are you using?

    unlovedwarrior



      Guru

    • someday this name will be known
    • Thanked: 13
      Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
      « Reply #2 on: May 23, 2007, 01:43:55 PM »
      when did start?? any new software or hardware added to the machine??

      jmartin49

      • Guest
      Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
      « Reply #3 on: May 23, 2007, 02:06:29 PM »
      I have'nt installed any new software as far as i can remember except a freeware program called regseeker (it cleans the windows registry) I think i used that but I ran the backup facility in that software so the registry should be as it was.

      As to protection i use the windows firewall, panda on-line virus scan & avg anti-virus

      Jon

      unlovedwarrior



        Guru

      • someday this name will be known
      • Thanked: 13
        Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
        « Reply #4 on: May 23, 2007, 02:16:43 PM »
        ummm look at my signature get those programs up date them run scans in safe mode(rapidly tap f8 before winodws loads) run them one at a time,

        « Last Edit: May 23, 2007, 03:43:29 PM by unlovedwarrior »

        patio

        • Moderator


        • Genius
        • Maud' Dib
        • Thanked: 1769
          • Yes
        • Experience: Beginner
        • OS: Windows 7
        Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
        « Reply #5 on: May 23, 2007, 03:16:27 PM »
        Right clik an empty area of the desktop and select arrange icons...make sure auto arrange is turned off...
        " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "

        jmartin49

        • Guest
        Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
        « Reply #6 on: May 24, 2007, 03:36:00 AM »
        Thanks for your suggestions, I've basically tried all the scans, anti-virus, spybot, superantispyware, ccleaner etc. Auto Arrange is switched off as well.

        None of this has fixed the problem, my desktop icons are still not where they should be on boot up & the quicklaunch bar is absent. The desktop still glitches & re-arranges itself sometimes for example when I have a lot of windows open & I hit the show desktop button from the quicklaunch bar.

        Could this be a graphics card issue I ask myself??

        ale52



          Expert

        • Deo Gratis
        • Thanked: 23
          • Experience: Expert
          • OS: Windows XP
          Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
          « Reply #7 on: May 24, 2007, 07:43:10 AM »
          Did you have the problem before you installed regseeker / did you do a registry restore (not system restore) from the back up of the registry you did?

          Alan <><  :D
          I have principles.  And if you don't like them...well...I have other principles!!

          jmartin49

          • Guest
          Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
          « Reply #8 on: May 24, 2007, 09:47:52 AM »
          Alan

          I had this problem for a while, I think it probably did manifest itself after I installed regseeker. I have backed up the registry from within regseeker, except one item on the regseeker backup list won't restore I get an 'error accessing the registtry' message.

          Basically I don't have much experiance regarding registry issues, so if this problem is related to the registry then I feel pretty stuck.

          unlovedwarrior



            Guru

          • someday this name will be known
          • Thanked: 13
            Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
            « Reply #9 on: May 24, 2007, 10:23:50 AM »
            try system restore

            jmartin49

            • Guest
            Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
            « Reply #10 on: May 24, 2007, 10:50:55 AM »
            Already tried that, system restore only gets so far...on re-boot it tells me that it could'nt be completed!

            patio

            • Moderator


            • Genius
            • Maud' Dib
            • Thanked: 1769
              • Yes
            • Experience: Beginner
            • OS: Windows 7
            Re: Desktop Icons keep re-arranging themselves
            « Reply #11 on: May 24, 2007, 01:56:59 PM »
            System File Checker.

            Start/Run sfc /scannow and hit Enter...have your XP CD handy as it will ask for it.
            Let it run to completion and re-boot when it's finished...
            " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "