Can I Back Up My Desktop?

Very occasionally, some of my desktop icons disappear. I can't be sure what causes this, but I noticed the last time was after I had inadvertently put the computer to sleep while a McAfee virus scan was in progress. Maybe that's it, maybe not.

System Restore puts the desktop back where it was but that's cumbersome. So I've saved a screenshot to enable recreation of vanished icons without having to memorise them all.

Ideally, I'd like to backup the whole desktop. Several programs are available to restore the layout of icons which get shuffled, eg after a change of screen resolution, and I've installed IconRestore recommended in this forum. But none seem to offer a full backup.

Perhaps it's technically impossible, but suggestions would be welcome.

May I suggest you rid yourself of the MucAfee bloatware infection and use the favorite of the experts around here, free Microsoft Security Essentials with the Win7 firewall.

MucAfee is such insidious bloatware that it requires using the Revo Uninstaller in Advanced mode to get out all of the hundreds of hidden Registry Keys and files leftover after "uninstall." So install free Revo, choose Advanced Mode, click on Muc, once Windows Uninstaller runs do not Restart when prompted, instead click "Next" to delete all of the bolded Registry Keys, then "Next" again to delete leftover files. You can then restart. Don't worry as a Restore Point is set before all of this.

Then install lightweight invisible free MS Security Essentials, let it Update and run a Quick scan, turn on the Win7 firewall and never be bothered again.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/
How to use Revo: http://www.guidingtech.com/457/revo-uninstaller/
Revo Free Download: http://download.cnet.com/Revo-Uninst...-10687648.html

I agree with gregrocker. Once you do this there probably won't be a need to back up your disk top.

Thanks, Jacee. Why didn't I think of that? I've copied all the shortcuts to a folder and, along with the screenshot, this will let me identify and recreate them easily if the need arises again.

Thanks also to gregrocker and Layback Bear. I detect that you're not McAfee fans. I don't know whether the antivirus was responsible; it may have been a coincidence. I'll take your comments on board, though, but there are good or bad reviews of most antivirus products all over the internet, and it is difficult for a layman like me to decide what to accept. I may well go over to MSE at some stage - it certainly has most of the opposition licked on price!