Windows 7 forum: Duplicate desktop shortcuts and icons

I had previously tried to reboot several times without success.
When I go to c:\users\<your user name>\desktop folder, I see only one shortcut listed of the 5 that I have, in addition to the my documents folder and a text file that I have saved on my desktop. All the duplicate "shortcuts" are on the desktop (actually, they are icons for shortcuts, the recycle bin, my documents folder - all icons on the desktop that I can see but can't click on at all).

There are more in the c:\users\public\desktop. Not I expect a success of having a look there, but it's worth a try.

Also some of the standard icons are defined elsewhere. Right click on an empty part of the desktop, choose "Personal preferences" (last option), then choose "Change desktop icons" (both texts are rough translations from my Dutch version) in the left column, then click "Restore standard settings"-button. Might help.

Kees

There is not a desktop folder within the public folder....so no shortcuts either.
I did what you suggested regarding restoring the standard desktop icon settings. Nothing happened. It looked like that was only meant to change the icon image if wanted.

I found the public folder by clicking the box within "appearance and personalization" to show hidden files and folders. That folder does contain a desktop folder which contains the shortcuts/icons that are on my desktop that can be clicked. I still have this whole set of other icons that are just "there" on the desktop and cannot be clicked/opened. Weird!

If you make a new Windows account (just for testing initially) do they appear there twice also? I don't expect so, as a desktop is a user thing, not a global thing. So one thing you can consider is swithching to a new Windows account totally.

And I think it's somehow defined in the registry. So if you can do system restore to back before this happened (a few days ago?) it might be solved. Worth a try, maybe.

Kees

Oh wow! I just figured it out. In the "Appearances and Themes", you can switch backgrounds for your desktop. Somehow - I have no idea how - a theme/image was created and used as the desktop background. The background was essentially a snapshot of the screen. Once I selected a new theme all was normal. Have no idea how this happened, but very easily fixed Thanks!

I remember some years ago a colleague of mine did a cheap trick on another person.

He took a screen print of the Desktop then used that as a wallpaper whilst hiding a few of the other guys icons.

The victim was not impressed when he found out.

Mark