Multiplying desktop icons?! Ack!

(apologizing in advance if this is posted in the wrong area)

Issue: Upon restart / reboot, all my desktop shortcuts are doubled (x2). If I try to delete the second copy, both icons are removed. When I check to see if the files are in the Recycle Bin only one icon is present. If I try to restore that icon, two are shown on the desktop...

This is probably my own fault for poking around...

I was trying to customize my desktop with Stardock's Desktop X, and IconPackager, just to change my shortcut icons and add widgets, etc. to the desktop. Instead of using the IconPackager, I ended up changing the icons by right clicking the shortcut on the desktop > properties > change icon, and then selecting the .ico files I have saved on my computer.

All was well until the next day when my shortcuts no longer acted as shortcuts - nothing occurred when I clicked on them, and I could not delete them. If I tried to delete them then I would get an error telling me that the files could not be located (yet I could see them on the desktop). Eventually I fiddled around and restored my desktop back to its basics.

I ran scans on Spybot, AVG, Windows Defender, and Ad-Aware. I also uninstalled Stardock.

After recreating all my shortcuts, when I reboot or restart my computer, they are all multiplied. There are 2 copies of each shortcut I have on my desktop.

Why is this happening, and how can I fix it? Preferably without having to system restore...

System:
Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)
HP Pavilion dv6700 Notebook PC
Intel Core2 Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83GHz

The software has most likley screwed your pc. Use system restore to restore to a day before you installed the junk. Good you uninstalled them.

Handy program for the future it saves / restores your desktop very well :

DesktopOK // 1.57 : Save and restore the desktop icon positions.

Try the second method in this Tutorial:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117229-icon-cache-rebuild.html

I tried both methods for rebuilding the icon cache... to no avail. Anytime I restart the icons are still doubled.

I noticed something after I chose to show my Hidden Folders... there is a hidden folder called "Public Desktop". It shows every shortcut I have on the desktop - but only that there is ONE copy of each shortcut. When I view my desktop in Windows Explorer, however, it shows that there are indeed two icons for every shortcut I made.

All the icons on the right are the originals, the ones on the left are what appeared after I restarted my laptop.



I realllly would like to avoid system restoring. I'm not even sure what date I played with my icons, now...

You could try creating a new user and starting from that.

Can you recommend any sites or software I can use to customize my desktop? I'm interesting in finding a new dock for my shortcuts and possibly add a large clock application... as well as (hopefully) getting those icons customized.

Please check the solution by Brink and see if it pertains to you.

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-performance-maintenance/117125-same-icon-desktop-twice.html