Loosing desktop settings (open folders) in between logins ?

I just installed a couple of apps on my win2k (pro) system
(as administrator) and since then, I keep losing my
desktop settings (open folders that I carefully arrange
for ease of access) whenever I restart and login my system.

Would appreciate any suggestion as to where these settings
are supposed to be preserved and how to change back to the
original (persistent screen) default.