icons duplicating on my desktop

[denise]

Every time I place something on my desktop I get 2 icons
if I delete one the other will not work.

If I delete one and then click F5 the duplicate icon will
dissappear

I have tried deleteing the Iconshellcache and it just
comes back with the same problem.

Anyone have the answer to this problem

Thank you

[Kelly]

Hi Denise,

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersi
on\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Change CommonDesktop from:
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop

To:

CommonDesktop
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop


--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util


"denise" > wrote in message
...
> Every time I place something on my desktop I get 2 icons
> if I delete one the other will not work.
>
> If I delete one and then click F5 the duplicate icon will
> dissappear
>
> I have tried deleteing the Iconshellcache and it just
> comes back with the same problem.
>
> Anyone have the answer to this problem
>
> Thank you

[Kirk]

I have the exact same problem and Kellys fix did nothing.
I also found that if I deleted one, and then tried to delete the other I got an error (but hitting F5 does delete the other)

[David Candy]

The desktop is composed of two folders, one personal and one common. You =
have set both to the same folder. Look here and see what you did. =
Desktop and CommonDesktop are the values.=20

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\She=
ll Folders
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Use=
r Shell Folders
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\User=
Shell Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shel=
l Folders



--=20
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Kirk" > wrote in message =
...
> I have the exact same problem and Kellys fix did nothing.
> I also found that if I deleted one, and then tried to delete the other =
I got an error (but hitting F5 does delete the other)

[Kelly]

When you verified/compared the settings I suggested, were they exact or
modified?

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util


"Kirk" > wrote in message
...
> I have the exact same problem and Kellys fix did nothing.
> I also found that if I deleted one, and then tried to delete the other I
got an error (but hitting F5 does delete the other)

[Kelly]

Thank you!

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util


"David Candy" > wrote in message
...
The desktop is composed of two folders, one personal and one common. You
have set both to the same folder. Look here and see what you did. Desktop
and CommonDesktop are the values.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
and
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders



--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Kirk" > wrote in message
...
> I have the exact same problem and Kellys fix did nothing.
> I also found that if I deleted one, and then tried to delete the other I
got an error (but hitting F5 does delete the other)

[David Candy]

It's caused by dragging the desktop folder about in the person's profile =
folder or All Users. So depending on what dragging he did ...

--=20
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Kelly" > wrote in message =
...
> Thank you!
>=20
> --=20
> All the Best,
> Kelly
>=20
> MS-MVP Win98/XP
> [AE-Windows=AE XP]
>=20
> Troubleshooting Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
>=20
> Utilities for Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util
>=20
>=20
> "David Candy" > wrote in message
> ...
> The desktop is composed of two folders, one personal and one common. =
You
> have set both to the same folder. Look here and see what you did. =
Desktop
> and CommonDesktop are the values.
>=20
> =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\She=
ll
> Folders
> =
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Use=
r
> Shell Folders
> and
> =
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\User=

> Shell Folders
> =
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shel=
l
> Folders
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --=20
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
> "Kirk" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have the exact same problem and Kellys fix did nothing.
> > I also found that if I deleted one, and then tried to delete the =
other I
> got an error (but hitting F5 does delete the other)
>=20
>=20

[Kelly]

I've never tested that far. And beings the initial workaround was from you,
hoped you would have jumped in. <w>

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

Utilities for Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util


"David Candy" > wrote in message
...
It's caused by dragging the desktop folder about in the person's profile
folder or All Users. So depending on what dragging he did ...

--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Kelly" > wrote in message
...
> Thank you!
>
> --
> All the Best,
> Kelly
>
> MS-MVP Win98/XP
> [AE-Windows® XP]
>
> Troubleshooting Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
>
> Utilities for Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util
>
>
> "David Candy" > wrote in message
> ...
> The desktop is composed of two folders, one personal and one common. You
> have set both to the same folder. Look here and see what you did. Desktop
> and CommonDesktop are the values.
>
>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Shell
> Folders
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\User
> Shell Folders
> and
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\User
> Shell Folders
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Shell
> Folders
>
>
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
> "Kirk" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have the exact same problem and Kellys fix did nothing.
> > I also found that if I deleted one, and then tried to delete the other I
> got an error (but hitting F5 does delete the other)
>
>

[kirk]

When you verified/compared the settings I suggested, were they exact or
modified?

---------------------

The settings I had were just what you said they'd be. and I changed them to exactly
what you said. The icons are still duplicated. I also rebooted afterwards (should I
need to?)

[David Candy]

If editing the registry then yes. If dragging and dropping then no. In =
your narrow circumstance you have to edit the registry.

--=20
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"kirk" > wrote in message =
...
> When you verified/compared the settings I suggested, were they =
exact or
> modified?
> =20
> ---------------------
>=20
> The settings I had were just what you said they'd be. and I changed =
them to exactly
> what you said. The icons are still duplicated. I also rebooted =
afterwards (should I=20
> need to?)

[Kirk]

So should I change all 4 registry entries?

[Kirk]

More importantly, you say there's "personal" and "common" folders Yet give 4 registry entries
Should it be

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Shell Folder -> Common folder
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folder -> Personal Folder

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell Folder -> Common folder
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\User Shell Folder -> Personal Folder

or

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Shell Folder -> Common folder
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folder -> Common Folder

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell Folder -> Personal folder
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\User Shell Folder -> Personal Folder

???????

[David Candy]

Common Desktop under both local machine and desktop under both current =
user. Programs designed for 95/98/NT4 read the shell folder key. =
Programs designed for 2000/ME/XP asks windows, which reads User Shell =
Folders. It appears IE uses both new and old. The format used in Shell =
Folders (eg c:\somefolder) can be used in User Shell Folders but not =
vice versa (eg %userprofile%\desktop) as 95/98/NT4 programs have no idea =
what this format is.

You need to say what is currently there. Then I'll say what to put =
there.


--=20
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Kirk" > wrote in message =
...
> More importantly, you say there's "personal" and "common" folders Yet =
give 4 registry entries
> Should it be
>=20
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Shell Folder -> Common folder
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folder -> Personal Folder
>=20
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell Folder -> Common folder
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\User Shell Folder -> Personal Folder
>=20
> or
>=20
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Shell Folder -> Common folder
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folder -> Common Folder
>=20
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell Folder -> Personal folder
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\User Shell Folder -> Personal Folder
>=20
> ???????

[Kirk]

Got it. Thanks it works now.

So as summary to how I fixed. I ran regedit and changed keys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Shell Folders\Common Desktop -> C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folders\Common Desktop -> %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell Folders\Desktop -> C:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folders\Desktop -> %USERPROFILE%\Desktop

where "username" is the name of the user logged on (in my case "default")

How this happened is something I don't know. I don't remember exactly what was there before but I seem
to recall that there were "All Users" where there should have been "default" (my user name) and this
happened on an upgrade to Windows XP from Windows ME. I also note that I tried to create a new user
and that one got set up correctly. Something about the trasfer of my data from ME I suspect.

Thanks for your help.
Kirk

[David Candy]

Sure you didn't drag the all user's desktop folder over the top of the =
current user's desktop folder.

--=20
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"Kirk" > wrote in message =
...
> Got it. Thanks it works now.
>=20
> So as summary to how I fixed. I ran regedit and changed keys
>=20
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\Shell Folders\Common Desktop -> C:\Documents =
and Settings\All Users\Desktop
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folders\Common Desktop -> =
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop
>=20
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell Folders\Desktop -> C:\Documents and =
Settings\username\Desktop
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\...\User Shell Folders\Desktop -> =
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
>=20
> where "username" is the name of the user logged on (in my case =
"default")
>=20
> How this happened is something I don't know. I don't remember exactly =
what was there before but I seem
> to recall that there were "All Users" where there should have been =
"default" (my user name) and this
> happened on an upgrade to Windows XP from Windows ME. I also note =
that I tried to create a new user
> and that one got set up correctly. Something about the trasfer of my =
data from ME I suspect.
>=20
> Thanks for your help.
> Kirk

[Kirk]

AHA! I just dicovered the culprit that's changing these. I run CoolDesk from ShellToys and immediately my icons go away. I looked at the registry after I ran it and sure enough it had changed both ShellFolders and UserShell Folders to "All Users" and "%
ALLUSERSPROFILE" in my CURRENT_USER area. Don't know why and don't care (though I really would like multiple desktops...)