Duplicate Desktop Icons (Regedit didn't work)

chocobosage85

New Member
Hello everyone.

I'm having a problem. As you can guess, I'm getting duplicate desktop icons on my desktop.

I have already tried changing the following registry entries multiple times (multiple fix attempts):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\String "Desktop"
Modified Data to:
%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
C:\Users\<My User Name Here>\Desktop

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Folders
String "Common Desktop" Data:
%PUBLIC%\Desktop
C:\Users\Public\Desktop

None of these changes made any difference. I have checked, these registry entries do reference existing files. I'm guessing that Windows is not recognizing the "Current_User" entry because the actual shortcuts exist in the public desktop folder, and if I move them out of there and into my personal desktop folder they disappear leaving me with nothing (except my recycling bin).

After trying the registry changes, I always rebooted. And I have tried deleting the entries and recreating them, and likewise with the desktop folders themselves.

I have scoured the internet for help and all I see is "the regedit worked for me, thanks!" I glad for them, but I need help... Pretty Please, :cry: Please. I tried to be as detailed as I could, if you need any other info or screenshots, let me know.

Oh, this all started when I almost started to copy "my" desktop folder into the public folder, but I canceled it before it even started. I recently did a clean install of Vista Home Premium x64. I have been setting up filesharing with my laptop and wifes computer (as I had it before reformating). I remember trying to merge desktop folders in the past on XP, to try and simplify filesharing, but got the duplicate problem (which is why I stopped the merging on my compy). I was able to fix it before (I believe with the regedit fix), but that was on my wifes XP compy.

"Any help here would be hot" Let me know if you need any more info. Thanks. I really appreciate any help you can provide.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home Build
    CPU
    Core 2 Quad Q6600 (OC'ed at 3.0 GHz)
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i SLI (MB-N780-ISH9)
    Memory
    Corsair 4GB (4x1GB) DDR2 800MHz DHX (not Dominator)
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 MSI 8800GT's SLI'ed (NX8800GT 512M OC)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Chimei 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    500 GB Seagate Barracude 7200.11 (ST3500320AS)
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 830 Stacker Black
    Cooling
    6 Silverstone FM-121 (5 Case, 1 CPU with Ultra-120 Extreme)
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (version 2)
    Mouse
    Generic Logitech Wired Mouse
    Internet Speed
    DSL mid level
Try performing a system restore to a point before you got the dup icons on desktop (and messed with the registry)

Here is how:
Use System restore
Note- using restore utility, this can be performed with a disk or recovery partition to access The system recovery Options:

Recovery Walkthrough: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/194765-system-recovery-options.html

Start, in search bar type restore> Click the program at top> at prompt, click "continue"> after system restore loads, choose a date/time from before the issue occured.


You can remove desktop images by accessing the User folder "desktop folder" and simply right clicking and deleting the icons in question. keep in mind that deleting shared User icons may delete them from that Users desktop folder also.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    T7600G Core2Duo 2.66 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Intel 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobility Radeon x1900 256MB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    WUXGA 17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    640GB 7200RPM SATA/RAID 0 (2x320GB)
    and 320GB 7200RPM External
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft 3000
    Internet Speed
    10 mbps/2 mbps
    Other Info
    Optical Drive:
    Panasonic UJ-220 DL BD-RE (Blu-Ray)
About that... I cleared the restore points when I was defragging and I forgot to create one afterwards... Sorry, I should have mentioned that. I had already thought of doing that... but discovered I didn't have any before the issue.

Also, I don't want to delete any of the desktop shortcuts. I just don't want vista to show two of them. There is only one of each of them in my public desktop folder. However, for some reason windows is showing each of them twice on the desktop. If I delete the file (either in the folder or on the desktop) when the desktop is refreshed (by F5, or whatever) the other icon automatically disappears. Similarly, if I go and restore it from the recycling bin, 2 show up on my desktop.

Once again, I believe this is due to the fact that windows is referencing the public desktop folder twice when it generates the desktop instead of, my user desktop folder and the public desktop folder once each (even though, as far as I can tell, the registry is telling it to do it the later/proper way). This would also explain why nothing in my user desktop folder shows up on my desktop. Make sense?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home Build
    CPU
    Core 2 Quad Q6600 (OC'ed at 3.0 GHz)
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i SLI (MB-N780-ISH9)
    Memory
    Corsair 4GB (4x1GB) DDR2 800MHz DHX (not Dominator)
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 MSI 8800GT's SLI'ed (NX8800GT 512M OC)
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Chimei 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    500 GB Seagate Barracude 7200.11 (ST3500320AS)
    PSU
    Cooler Master Real Power Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 830 Stacker Black
    Cooling
    6 Silverstone FM-121 (5 Case, 1 CPU with Ultra-120 Extreme)
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (version 2)
    Mouse
    Generic Logitech Wired Mouse
    Internet Speed
    DSL mid level
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