Windows 7: Problems with Desktop Icons in Windows 7

Meridius1987 · 15 Oct 2012

For some reason recently the desktop icons keep changing every time I restart my laptop.

I set them up how I like them (under right click, view) on small icons, but when I restart they automatically set themselves to medium icons. I was wondering why this is happening and what I can do to stop it happening?

I've uploaded pictures to show what the problem is, if that helps.

Before Reboot
http://imageshack.us/a/img259/2903/69606971.jpg
After Reboot:
http://imageshack.us/a/img99/620/20300894.jpg

Ztruker · 15 Oct 2012

What software have you installed. This sounds like something is restoring the desktop settings at boot time.

Meridius1987 · 15 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Ztruker

What software have you installed. This sounds like something is restoring the desktop settings at boot time.

I have Windows 7.

Ztruker · 16 Oct 2012

I know you have Windows 7. What I need to know is what other software/programs you have installed around the time this problem started.

Meridius1987 · 16 Oct 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Ztruker

I know you have Windows 7. What I need to know is what other software/programs you have installed around the time this problem started.

Oh sorry. I hadn’t installed anything new, but my laptop had just been repaired and Windows 7 installed on it, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it. When I got it back I just installed the stuff I had already had on it (as it was wiped being repaired), this includes Winamp, VLC Media Player, iTunes, 2007 Microsoft Office, AVG. That’s about it.

I did notice earlier today that when I went under the folder options and clicked to show hidden folders, my desktop did an automatic refresh and placed all the icons to the left of the screen. I don’t know if that helps you at all.

Thanks for your help too.

Ztruker · 17 Oct 2012

One fix I found was to create a new user account then transfer everything from the old to the new account.

Found here: desktop icons resizing after reboot pls help!!!! - AfterDawn: Forums, last post in thread.

ALso possible fix here: Icons change size after restart

Meridius1987 · 17 Oct 2012

Hi Ztruker. Thanks for all your suggestions, but I have tried the "Windows Repair (All in One)" and done a “SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker” option and neither of those fixed the problem. I created another user account and did a reboot on that account, and the desktop icons did stay in place, but when I tried to copy all my files from the old account to the new one, it wouldn’t let me. A “Folder Action Denied” box came up saying I needed permission to perform this action from User-PC/User to make changes to the folder “Application Data”

systemforeva · 17 Oct 2012

As the machine boots if u have a password hit ctrl alt del twice and log in as an administrator.

Meridius1987 · 17 Oct 2012

UPDATE:
The problem has been sorted. I did a full scan of Malware using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware software. It found a few issues so I removed them, restarted my laptop and the icons have stayed in place. Hopefully that will solve the issue for good and if it does occur again, it should be easy to solve.

Thank you again for all your help and input, I very much appreciate it.

Windows 7: Problems with Desktop Icons in Windows 7

Problems with Desktop Icons in Windows 7 problems?