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?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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

2012-08-24T07:02:25+00:00

I just tried ComboFix and it worked for me too. Thanks Builderdude2377 for this tip. For others that want to try ComboFix, make sure you download it from CNET or another site that you can trust. There are some fake copies of ComboFix on the net that are actually malware.

Any way, ComboFix fixed my icon issues and it appears to have removed some malware remnants that NIS 2012 and Windows Security Essentials didn't remove.

Below is some info from a log file that ComboFix generated on my computer after is was done:

ComboFix 12-08-22.03 - 08/23/2012 21:17:23.1.8 - x64

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium[GMT -7:00]

Running from: c:\ComboFix.exe

AV: Microsoft Security Essentials *Disabled/Updated* {9765EA51-0D3C-7DFB-6091-10E4E1F341F6}

* Created a new restore point

.

.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Other Deletions )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

.

c:\programdata\96BFC928D4.sys

c:\users\Doug\AppData\Local\Temp\7zS11A0\HPSLPSVC64.DLL

.

.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Drivers/Services )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

.

.

-------\Service_HPSLPSVC

.
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Anonymous

2012-08-30T16:07:59+00:00

Hello.

It seems your user profile is corrupted. Try this link to fix your problem: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profile

Helped?
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Anonymous

2012-09-02T13:58:17+00:00

Well, like Doug, I have tried all the suggested fixes over the past week and nothing worked until last night.....when I ran Combofix. But thank goodness it sets a restore point because after running it it left me with a crashed computer! I had no access to internet explorer or any of my programs. I am new to W7 and have never had system restore work, but I had no choice to try it. Well it did work and put everything back to the reset point that Combofix had made an hour earlier. Way cool...but not only did I have my working computer back....the desktop icons now stay where I put them!!!

So there is a registry problem that Microsoft needs to address and correct. In hindsight simply creating a new restore point and then immediately restoring to that point may have also corrected the moving icon issue....probably because in doing a system restore, the computer is checked for issues in the registry. Just a thought, and it might save the major drama of seeing every program you click on say "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion"...which is what I got after running Combo Fix.

So a big high-five for Doug's save on a very frustrating icon issue!
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