BleepingComputer.com: Vista Desktop Icons

Hi all

Im having a problem with my Desktop icons, the problem im having is, if i were to move any one of my icons somewhere else on the desktop i get two of the same,(once moved it creates another icon) the one ive moved is fine and can be used such as double click on it to use or right click for propities etc, but the duplicate one created after ive moved the original cant be used or deleted, im not sure what has caused this but its only just started to happen, ive tried to find some settings to see if anything has changed but cant find anything of any use, hope this makes sense its been so annoying as i have loads of icons (shortcuts) and they cant be deleted

Have you tried to right click on an empty area of the Desktop and select "Refresh"? What happens if you do that? If it "fixes" it, then I'd suspect there would be issues with the default refresh rate of your Desktop. Post back if this solution works and we'll research it some more.

Ive tried the refresh and it is still no different, ive tried it 3 or 4 times and each time i drag a icon (shortcut) to a space on the desktop it still shows a icon (copy of the one moved) in the original place and is totally dead, cant delete and cant use as a shortcut, its just part of the desktop background now as i cant move or do anything with it

I'd give SFC.EXE a try. Here's a link on how to use it: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic43051.html

Thanks usasma, i tried the SFC.EXE but it didnt come up with anything maybe there is something hidden that can change this but i cant find it.

Ahhhh I've found the problem, seems the desktop background was at fault I had taken a screenshot of a game i was playing (CoD4) and used it as a desktop background, for some reason it was copying icons when i moved them so i had two of everything, changed the background to a stock one and the problem has gone many thanks for the help but glad to say it wasn't too serious

Wow! That's something that I've never heard of before. Thanks for letting us know.

This reminds me of something (a maybe-not-so-nice practical joke) that was described in a thread here at Bleeping Computer, but I just can't find that thread right now.

1. Take a screen snapshot of the normal desktop.

2. Specify the image snapped in 1. above to be the desktop background.

3. Right-click on the desktop, and UNcheck Arrange Icons By, Show Desktop Icons.

I tried this, and it does work. You end up with a desktop that appears to be normal, but none of the shortcuts/icons do anything when you double-click on them (because they are just parts of a large image file)!

So, if you ever encounter what seems to be a non-functioning desktop, right-click on the desktop and make sure that Arrange Icons By, Show Desktop Icons is checked. What happens then is that the desktop is painted with the background image (the "non-functioning" image of itself) and then the functioning icons/shortcuts are displayed on top of that image. If the icons/shortcuts haven't been moved since the original image was snapped, the icons/shortcuts align with their images on the desktop background. Visually, the desktop doesn't look any different, but now it "works" properly when you double-click an icon/shortcut. After that, right-click on the desktop again and select Properties, Desktop to verify/change the background.

I'm using a system with Windows XP Professional SP2, with all updates; I think the same behavior will occur in Vista.