Desktop Bug? Creating Duplicate Instances Of Same File

[Hashim]

Hi there.

Basically, I've recently made the long-overdue transition from a 5-years old Windows XP machine to a brand-new Windows 7 one, which I've now had for a few days. Only yesterday, what appears to be a small bug reared it's ugly head.

Any file or folder created or moved onto my Desktop is automatically duplicated with another instance of that item. I say an instance because it's not simply a copy of that file, strictly-speaking, because when the duplicate is clicked, it opens the original file. So, I'm left with two instances of the same file on my Desktop. Just to make this clearer, suppose that, as an example, I created/moved a Plain Text file onto my Desktop. A duplicate of that item would then appear. When clicked, this duplicate opens the very same file, meaning therefore, that I have two instances of the same file. In case you were wondering, the duplicate is also not a shortcut to the original file: bringing up its properties, it has the exact same properties as the originally-created one does. I hope everyone's following me so far.

As well as the strange behaviour mentioned above, the bug also affects deleting files or folders in the Desktop. As I've already said, two instances of the file are created when a file is created on the Desktop. In the same way, deleting one instance of the file also deletes the other - but not straight away. It registers as deleted, but the Desktop has to be refreshed for the other instance to disappear.

So, I've come here in the hope that someone with more computing experience than me can help me out with my problem asap. I'm studying an iMedia course at my college for which all my work is done on my computer, meaning I need my computer to be working at all times, and for as long as it isn't, it means I'm not able to get my work done, so, any and all help would be appreciated very much.

Thanks.

 

[Hashim]

Can no-one help me out?

 

[logicearth]

You issues is quite strange...But lets start here, if you go to C:\Users\[username]\Desktop open a second window and go to C:\Users\Public\Desktop (might be hidden) compare the contents.

 

[Hashim]

You issues is quite strange...But lets start here, if you go to C:\Users\[username]\Desktop open a second window and go to C:\Users\Public\Desktop (might be hidden) compare the contents.

Well, that'd be B:\Users... for me, as I've recently changed the location of the Users directory from the default C: drive, to my larger B: drive.

Contents of B:\Users\[username]\Desktop is exactly what is showing up on my desktop when normally viewed, minus the duplicates.

And the contents of B:\Users\Public\Desktop - well, it doesn't actually exist. It's not there. I can't be sure, but I think I have may deleted it. I do remember deleting a folder called Public cos I didn't think I needed it, can't be sure for certain whether it was in this directory or not.

Any ideas?

 

[logicearth]

Desktop in the Public folder is normally hidden, you can either type it into the address bar or show hidden files. I have a feeling, that your desktop folder is linked (Junction) to a second desktop folder (like the one in public) that Windows look in when it populate the desktop. Thus it would create the appearance of duplication.

 

[Hashim]

Desktop in the Public folder is normally hidden, you can either type it into the address bar or show hidden files.

Nope, can't be a hidden folder, got hidden files/folders already set to show. It isn't actually the Desktop folder that's not there, it's the entire Public folder within users. The only two users folders in my B:\Users directory iare my personal user folder, and a hidden one called Default, which has nothing in it except AppData and .dat files.

 

[logicearth]

How did you move the desktop folder to the second drive?

 

[Hashim]

How did you move the desktop folder to the second drive?

By copying the Users folder to my B: drive manually and then changing some registry values. If I recall correctly, I actually used a tutorial that was on this forum:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87555-user-profile-change-default-location.html

 

[lehnerus2000]

Maybe you missed one of the Registry values.

Windows might not "like" you deleting the "Public" user folder.

 

[Hashim]

Maybe you missed one of the Registry values.

Windows might not "like" you deleting the "Public" user folder.

It's possible that I missed a Registry value, I suppose. I changed four different Registry values, three as instructed in that tutorial and an extra one shown in another tutorial. The values I changed were the following:

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\Default
2. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList \ProfilesDirectory
3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\Public
4. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-2847690372-1489389225-4206248361-1000\ProfileImagePath

The parts in bold are the names of the values within the keys/subkeys which were changed. All of the above were simply changed from C: to B:, to reflect the new drive that I wanted to move my Users folder to.

Any ideas as to what Registry keys I might have missed?

 

[lehnerus2000]

Unfortunately no

Do the entries in this key look right?
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders


Try running a Registry cleaner (e.g. CCleaner or other), but don't clean the Registry.
Check the report and see if you notice anything unusual (like a key pointing to the old Desktop location).

It might be worth trying this with several cleaners, as I have noticed that they all seem to detect different things.


You could also try running "Process Monitor" and checking the Registry calls when you save something to the Desktop.
Process Monitor

 

[Britton30]

Did you delete the old User file (Method 1, Step 15)?

 

[Hashim]

Do the entries in this key look right?
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Try running a Registry cleaner (e.g. CCleaner or other), but don't clean the Registry.
Check the report and see if you notice anything unusual (like a key pointing to the old Desktop location).

It might be worth trying this with several cleaners, as I have noticed that they all seem to detect different things.

You could also try running "Process Monitor" and checking the Registry calls when you save something to the Desktop.
Process Monitor

I've just checked the Shell Folders, everything is looking as it should.

Did you delete the old User file (Method 1, Step 15)?

Yes, I deleted the old User file in the C drive right after I copied it to my second drive.

An update on this, ladies and gents: I've managed to fix this problem.

Although I'm not 100% sure on what exactly was causing it, I know that it was something to do with the second User Account on the system, which was the User Account I especially created to make the registry changes to my original User Account. The account must have been corrupt or something. Either way, when I deleted it the problem disappeared and my desktop was back to normal.

And, just as a test to ensure it wasn't a case of there being a bug preventing me from creating more than one user account without them sharing the same desktop, I then created another User Account and, surely enough, both desktops were working as they should be, independently of each other - reinforcing the idea that the other User Account must have been somehow corrupted.

Thanks again for all of your time and advice, everyone, been much appreciated. I'm glad I've finally got this sorted.

I bid you all adieu... until the next time I manage to muck up my shiny new Windows 7.

 

[Britton30]

Mysterious. Good to hear you found a solution Hashim.

 

[S1mp10]

Any progress on solving your problem? I have a similar issue with my PC.