Solved Duplicate desktop icons

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yorkshire lass

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All of a sudden I have got duplicate desktop icons. It seems that the top layer is working as a shortcut but when I click & drag it there is another icon underneath which does not work. If I try to delete them only the top icon disappears the bottom one will not be moved or deleted. I have tried to use Unlocker, done disc clean up, defrag, disc check, run McAfee, superantispyware and no baddies found. I've posted a screen capture of just one icon but all the icons are affected.


Capture-5.jpg
 
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yorkshire lass said:
All of a sudden I have got duplicate desktop icons. It seems that the top layer is working as a shortcut but when I click & drag it there is another icon underneath which does not work. If I try to delete them only the top icon disappears the bottom one will not be moved or deleted. I have tried to use Unlocker, done disc clean up, defrag, disc check, run McAfee, superantispyware and no baddies found. I've posted a screen capture of just one icon but all the icons are affected.


Capture-5.jpg
Click to expand...

I don't have acccess to a Vista computer right now, so I can't give you exact paths to check, but have you looked in both "C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop" and "C:\Users\All Users\Desktop" folders?
 

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I admit to not being very proficient with the more technical aspects of computing ! I looked in the Users file which was in My Documents. I am the only one listed and I didn't know what else I should be looking for ! I had a lot of automatic updates the other day and I wondered if one of those could be causing problems.

Security Update for Windows Vista (KB958690)

Installation date: ‎11/‎03/‎2009 06:55

Installation status: Successful

Update for Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 Junk Email Filter (KB962871)

Installation date: ‎11/‎03/‎2009 06:56

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

This update provides the Junk E-mail Filter in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 with a more current definition of which e-mail messages should be considered junk e-mail.


Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - March 2009 (KB890830)

Installation date: ‎11/‎03/‎2009 06:57

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

After the download, this tool runs one time to check your computer for infection by specific, prevalent malicious software (including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom) and helps remove any infection that is found. If an infection is found, the tool will display a status report the next time that you start your computer. A new version of the tool will be offered every month.
 

My Computer

System One

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    Intel Pentium Dual core 2.2GHz
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yorkshire lass said:
I looked in the Users file which was in My Documents. I am the only one listed and I didn't know what else I should be looking for !
Click to expand...
You have to look Worldstart.lnk file anywhere:

You have to check following folders:

C:\Users\<your account>\Desktop
C:\Users\Default\Desktop
C:\Users\Public\Desktop

I had a lot of automatic updates the other day and I wondered if one of those could be causing problems.
Click to expand...
Nonsense!
 

My Computer

System One

I had a lot of automatic updates the other day and I wondered if one of those could be causing problems.
Click to expand...
Nonsense![/quote]

Why nonsense ? I have often seen in other posts that Microsoft updates have caused problems. Everything was OK on this computer until after those updates were installed. No other programmes have been installed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual core 2.2GHz
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    RAM 4 GB
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    250 GB C: drive Maxtor one touch 111 external HD 250GB
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    Logitech Wireless
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    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    Broadband (don't know speed!)
Hmm... I wonder. Are all icons affected, or just some? What I think you could have done is to capture a full screen image and set that as your wallpaper. Even if you have duplicate shortcut desktop icons in your user account and the public user account, they will not obliterate each other on the desktop, can both be moved and will both run the application/program.
Can you post another screenshot showing a larger area (more icons), and can you also post another image of the same area after you have moved/rearranged some of the moveable icons.
 

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    Dwarf Dwf/11/2012 r09/2013
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    Intel Core-i5-3570K 4-core @ 3.4GHz (Ivy Bridge) (OC 4.2GHz)
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    ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M
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    4 x 4GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (16GB)
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    MSI GeForce GTX770 Gaming OC 2GB
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    Realtek High Definition on board solution (ALC 898)
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    ViewSonic VA1912w Widescreen
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    1440x900
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    OCZ Agility 3 120GB SATA III x2 (RAID 0) Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATA II x2 Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 1TB SATA II Iomega 1.5TB Ext USB 2.0 WD 2.0TB Ext USB 3.0
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Dwarf said:
Hmm... I wonder. Are all icons affected, or just some? What I think you could have done is to capture a full screen image and set that as your wallpaper. Even if you have duplicate shortcut desktop icons in your user account and the public user account, they will not obliterate each other on the desktop, can both be moved and will both run the application/program.
Can you post another screenshot showing a larger area (more icons), and can you also post another image of the same area after you have moved/rearranged some of the moveable icons.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much Dwarf! That is exactly what I had done ! Mea culpa, mea culpa! I have just changed the wallpaper and everything is now back to normal. I shall certainly tip your scales!
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel Pentium Dual core 2.2GHz
    Memory
    RAM 4 GB
    Hard Drives
    250 GB C: drive Maxtor one touch 111 external HD 250GB
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless
    Internet Speed
    Broadband (don't know speed!)
I'm pleased to hear that you have solved your problem. The big clue to the solution was this:
yorkshire lass said:
If I try to delete them only the top icon disappears the bottom one will not be moved or deleted.
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dwarf Dwf/11/2012 r09/2013
    CPU
    Intel Core-i5-3570K 4-core @ 3.4GHz (Ivy Bridge) (OC 4.2GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z77 Extreme4-M
    Memory
    4 x 4GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B (16GB)
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX770 Gaming OC 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition on board solution (ALC 898)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic VA1912w Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Agility 3 120GB SATA III x2 (RAID 0) Samsung HD501LJ 500GB SATA II x2 Hitachi HDS721010CLA332 1TB SATA II Iomega 1.5TB Ext USB 2.0 WD 2.0TB Ext USB 3.0
    PSU
    XFX Pro Series 850W Semi-Modular
    Case
    Gigabyte IF233
    Cooling
    1 x 120mm Front Inlet 1 x 120mm Rear Exhaust
    Mouse
    Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000 for Business (USB)
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 3000 (USB)
    Internet Speed
    NetGear DG834Gv3 ADSL Modem/Router (Ethernet) ~4.0 Mb/s (O2)
    Other Info
    Optical Drive: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH10LS30 SATA Bluray Lexmark S305 Printer/Scanner/Copier (USB) WEI Score: 8.1/8.1/8.5/8.5/8.25 Asus Eee PC 1011PX Netbook (Windows 7 x86 Starter)
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