Same Icon on Desktop twice

Discussion in 'Windows Vista Performance' started by k8r, Dec 29, 2007.

  1. k8r

    k8r Guest

    I accidentally deleted my desktop file and it asked me something about
    duplication. My fingers moved to fast and i agreed. Now I have two of the
    same icons on my desktop. When I try to delete one of the icons, either they
    will both go away or one will stay there and not work. Sometimes I can get it
    to only have 1 icons but once I install a new program, it will double the
    icons again. I added a desktop file again to "user" file and there is also a
    "Public Desktop" in the public file. This is very annoying and I would like
    to be able to put icons on my desktop without the duplication. How do I fix
    this?
    This situation is really hard to explain so I hope someone will have an idea
    of how to fix it besides reinstalling windows. Thanks!
     
    k8r, Dec 29, 2007
    #1
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  2. Unintelligible. What is a "desktop file"?

    Solutions are unlikely as long as the problem is unclear.

    Hans-Georg
     
    Hans-Georg Michna, Jan 2, 2008
    #2
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  3. k8r

    k8r Guest

    When I installed Vista there was a Desktop folder with this location
    C:\Users\Kate\Desktop which I accidentally deleted. I remember it asked me
    about duplication when I deleted it and I pushed ok. I can't remember what
    it said because it has been awhile now. I thought I could just add a
    'Desktop' folder back to C:\Users\Kate ,which I did. Now when I add a
    shortcut to my desktop, it will duplicate the shortcut. I tried deleting the
    Desktop folder that I added but it still will duplicate the shortcuts on my
    desktop.

    How do I add shortcuts to my desktop without them being duplicated?

    I'm not sure if this is a better explanation or not.. sorry I'm trying..
     
    k8r, Jan 3, 2008
    #3
  4. Yes, it is, thanks!

    You could use regedit.exe to check the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
    Folders

    Check whether there is exactly one value named Desktop and check
    where it points. Perhaps this is the key. Perhaps you can fix it
    right here, if you can spot something that's not right. Try to
    compare this to another computer.

    Also try to put a file directly into the Desktop folder to check
    whether that appears only once on the actual desktop, to get a
    feeling for the nature of the error.

    I'm taking this from Windows XP, so there is a smal risk that
    this works differently in Windows Vista, but it's worth a check.

    I just checked the Desktop folder, and it doesn't seem to have
    any special characteristics---it is a normal folder.

    Be aware that there is a second Desktop folder anyway, in the
    All Users profile. The actual desktop shows a superimposition of
    both, but when you create an icon on the desktop, it should go
    only into your user profile, not into All Users\Desktop.

    Good luck---Hans-Georg
     
    Hans-Georg Michna, Jan 3, 2008
    #4
  5. k8r

    yoskay Guest

    Hi, I have the same problem which creates two desktop icons in User
    folder because I accidentally deleted Desktop. The reason I deleted
    Desktop was because the default folder icons somehow disappeared (
    teal-colored icon became yellow one).
    I have tried looking at the registry but desktop location was at the
    proper place.
    Does anyone have any suggestions?
    Having two exactly same icons make me feel really weird...
     
    yoskay, Mar 1, 2008
    #5
  6. k8r

    Brink Guest

    Hi Yoskay,

    Welcome to Vista x64 Forums. :party:

    Do you have more than one "C:\Users\(your username)\Desktop" folders?
    If you do, then delete all copies of them. Since the registry location
    is correct, follow OPTION ONE at the top of this tutorial for how to
    restore the Desktop folder. You will be using the "shell:desktop" (no
    quotes) command.

    http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/107990-personal-user-shell-folders-move-location.html


    This will show you how to fix a user folder if it turns yellow on you,
    if it happens again.

    http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90705-personal-user-shell-folders.html

    Shawn


    --
    Brink

    *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
    '*Vista x64 Forums*'
    (http://www.vistax64.com/index.php?referrerid=2980)
    *Please post feedback to help others.*
     
    Brink, Mar 1, 2008
    #6
  7. k8r

    yoskay Guest

    Thank you so much Shawn
    My problem was that Downloads registry was also located at Desktop
    Everything worked properly, folder icons look nice now :
    I appreciate your post

    Yosuk
     
    yoskay, Mar 2, 2008
    #7
  8. k8r

    Brink Guest

    Yosuke, I'm glad to hear that you got it sorted out. Thank you for the
    feedback.

    Shawn


    --
    Brink

    *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
    '*Vista x64 Forums*'
    (http://www.vistax64.com/index.php?referrerid=2980)
    *Please post feedback to help others.*
     
    Brink, Mar 2, 2008
    #8
  9. k8r

    Descant Guest

    Dell Inspiron 530 Vista Home Premium 32bi

    I have had this problem since first starting using my machine.
    thought it was just another Vista peculiarity so I decided not to hav
    any icons on the desktop for obvious reasons.
    I don't really have the confidence to edit the registry isn't that
    bit dangerous!
    Is there any other way to fix this?

    Any help would be gratefully receive
     
    Descant, Feb 26, 2010
    #9
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