Windows 7 desktop icons keep moving and changing size on reboot

Anonymous

After the latest Windows Update (7/10/12) the desktop icons move to the left side of the screen and change size from Small to Medium. Auto arrange is NOT checked. Only Align to grid is checked. There has been no other software installed since running Windows Update. The video drivers are up to date. I have tried all the recommendations from various forums online ranging from the ridiculous (Refresh) to third party software (Stardock Fences). The only thing that worked was Fences which I shouldn't need to use and even then if you click Refresh the icons try to move to the left side of the screen and do resize anyway. The fact that this all started after the required restart following the most recent Patch Tuesday updates. What the **** did you do this time Microsoft?

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hello Aramis the Priest,

Have you tried to manually uninstall the Windows Updates to see if a particular update is causing the issue?

The Recycle Bin is only on the default drive where the operating system was installed. This is normally the C:\ drive. The $ before RECYCLE means it is a hidden file.

In Windows Explorer, click the View tab and select "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" under the sub-menu "Hidden files and folders." Click "Apply" and "OK."

You will now see the RECYCLE. bin.

Let us know if this helps.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi,

What troubleshooting steps have you tried so far?

**Method 1:**I would suggest you to perform a full system scan just to be safe.

Here is a link that will give you information on how to perform a full system scan:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

Method 2: Un-install and re-install display adapter drivers.

Refer the following steps:

a) Click on Start, Right click on computer.

b) Click on properties, click on Device manager

c) Expand display adapter, Right click on the adapter option

d) Click on uninstall

e) Now go to your computer/ device manufacturer website, download the updated drivers and install them.

Method 3: Since it started after Windows update, perform System Restore, i.e. restore the computer to a date when it was working fine.

Step 1: System Restore: frequently asked questions:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/System-Restore-frequently-asked-questions

Note: After System Restore, you will be offered Windows Updates again, install them one by one in clean boot and check if that helps.

Step 2: A clean boot helps to verify if any third party application service or startup item is causing this issue.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Note: After you have finished diagnosing, follow step 7 in the article to boot to normal startup.

You may also refer:

Updates: frequently asked questions: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/updates-frequently-asked-questions

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45 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-08-17T03:36:03+00:00
Instructions
1. 1
Log on to your PC computer with an administrator account. - 2

Hold down the Windows key and press the "R" key to pull up the Run menu.
```
- 3
```
Type "regedit" into the Run menu and hit "Enter" to launch the Registry Editor tool. - 4

Navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer section of the registry. - 5

Right-click anywhere on the right side of the window, go into the "New" submenu and select "DWORD Value." - 6

Enter "NoSaveSettings" as the name of the value and hit "Enter" to save it. - 7

Double-click on the value you just created, change the data field to "1" and click "OK." - 8

Reboot your computer. Your desktop folder icons will now stay in place...

Worked?
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Anonymous

2012-08-17T01:29:03+00:00

I have not been able to solve it yet and am getting pretty tired of the "Its easy, just uncheck auto arrange" type answers. No matter what I try, it continually reverts back to an "auto arrange" like desktop with medium size icons.

I have created a new user account and it does not have this issue. So something is hokey in the user profile, but no one seems to know what.

Its not a driver conflict if the other user account does not have the problem. You would think there was a desktop settings registry key or a config file somewhere that could be recreated.

Its not associated with a windows update, as this started on the Aug 6th and I have no updates from around there. Found it interesting I had no restore points before that as I distinctly remember setting that up a year ago.

I have scanned the system with 2 different virus scanners and they have found nothing. I can resize and rearange the icons the way I want them and when I hit refesh, they move back to the left side.
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Anonymous

2012-08-17T01:03:54+00:00

Hi, I've been having this same problem for over a month now. Has anybody yet found some sort of solution? It's driving me crazy.
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