Windows 7 desktop icons keep moving and changing size on reboot

Anonymous
2012-07-20T18:25:40+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2012-07-29T20:27:30+00:00

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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Anonymous
2012-07-21T08:02:01+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2012-07-23T17:45:25+00:00

    Method 1 produced no results which I already figured would be the case as I had already done a full scan with MalwareBytes. Method 2 also failed to solve the problem. Method 3 (System Restore) can't be used as  there are only two restore points available

    • 7/22/12 & 7/23/12 - both of which are after the updates were installed. So none of your suggestions solved the problem. I've also noticed that along with the desktop icons issue, Windows Explorer no longer functions as it did. Now, no matter what it ALWAYS goes to the Details display. If the view was changed to List and you open a folder in that view and then click the Back arrow it reverts back to Details view. This never happened before either. It appears that the latest Windows Update altered the behavior of both the desktop icons and Windows Explorer.

    I also discovered an inconsistency regarding the Recycle Bin. On some drives it is listed as $RECYCLE.BIN and on others as Recycle Bin. At first I thought it was something to do with internal versus external drives but one of my external drives has it as $RECYCLE.BIN whereas the other two external drives have it as Recycle Bin.

    What's even worse is that in the beta testing of Windows 7 this same issue existed from what I have read in various forums online. That would suggest that something in the latest update code undid whatever had fixed the problem at that time.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-07-29T22:07:27+00:00

    I do not have the time to uninstall all the July updates and then reinstall them one at a time to see which one(s) is responsible for the desktop icon and Windows Explorer issues.

    That's interesting about the Recycle Bin because every version of Windows that I have used has shown a Recycle Bin on every hard drive in the system and not just on the C: drive where the OS is installed. You may be a moderator but I have serious doubts about your knowledge of Windows. There is a reason that the RB properties have the option to apply different sizes to the bin on each drive in the system. Regardless, my orginal question regarding the different naming scheme for the Recycle Bin was not answered completely. In fact, it raises yet another question: Why is the RB a hidden file on some drives and not on others?

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-08-03T15:10:02+00:00

    I have the same annoying problem with the desktop, seems like a simple setting or regeistry fix.  Can not find a quick fix and do no want to do some of the recommended destructive timely fixes offered by some.  Seems like no one uinderstands the probelm and goes off an a tangent with the fixes.  It's a simlpe problem, the desktop icons do not hold their settings (location on screen, size), they revert back to slamming to the top left of the screen after a reboot, relogon, or even after right clicking on the desktop and picking refresh.  This only happens to my user logon, the admin logon is fine, even created a new user and all is works good there.  Looks like the easiest fix is to create a new user, move all items to new user, delete the bad user profile, resetup all my program settings and rename the user to the original name, and move on, but this is very timely.

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