XP changes desktop icons randomly

[Alain Dekker]

Hi,

XP has this ability to choose the icons for, say, the Recycle bin on the
desktop. Its quite neat, because the default is hard to see and
hurts my eyes. Anyway, I choose an icon, and at some random stage (normally
about once every week or two weeks) XP will change it back to the default
bin.

Why is it doing this? Why does it change my choice?

Before anyone mumbles something about profiles, I should point out that I am
the only person who uses this PC.

Another thing: When I run Task Manager, I seldom get the icon in the tray
(bottom right of screen). I might have to do it half a dozen or more times
before it appears. Bug in XP or a setting I can change?

Thanks,
Alain

 

[Matthew Shaw]

That never seems to happen to me. You are probably logging onto different
profiles *mumble* *mumble* *mumble*...no but seriously, perhaps you are
changing themes, themes will change icons such as the recycle bin. The thing
with task manager: it could be hidden with the notification area hide
feature (a godsend to everyone with tonnes of background progs running).
Have you tryed clicking the little arrow to see if it will appear? If it
does:
- right click on a blank area on the taskbar and click properties
- right down the bottom click customise
- find the task manager in the list and change it to 'always show'

Hope this helps you

PS. You could try going to windowsupdate.microsoft.com and downloading
service pack 1a (?) and any other updates on there. Your fix if it is indeed
a bug, could be there.

 

[Alain Dekker]

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for replying.

Unfortunately it doesn't help, though it might point to why things are going
wrong. Firstly, I am using the Windows classic style (similiar to Windows
2000 UI). I prefer this to the cartoony look of classic XP - maybe that's
the problem?

There are no "little arrows" in my notification (tray) area - I suppose
because I am using the classic style, but also because I've turned off the
"Hide inactive icons" feature. Effectively my icons should display all the
time.

No-one else ever logs into this PC, and I'm not changing themes. I can even
clsoe Task Manager, and load it straight back up - and the icon will more
often than not NOT appear in the tray area! Very frustrating and you over
and over close TM, re-open, check if icon has arrived, repeat until it
works. The odd thing is that if you click on a different window first (an
Explorer seems to be the best, but doesn't always work), then the next time
you open TM, the icon normally appears! However, if you close it, don't
click another window and open straight away, the icon does not come back. TM
is the only program I have that exhibits this problem.

As to the desktop icons - I'm at a loss. Its got to be a MS bug. How can it
not be??!!

I will check on MS wite - I already have SP 1 installed, so either MS have
not recognised this as a bug, or its too low priority. However for me, its a
real sore point!

Thanks again,
Alain

 

[Guest]

Running Service Pack1a...yeah right..that is when my changing desktop icons started to show themselves....When I ran that update, a number of small, annoying things, started to happen with my XP Pro. No longer could I log into the computer without entering who I was in the Welcome screen..even though it never was implemented before and I am the only user, my desktop icons refuse to stay as custom icons...they keep reverting back to XP standard. These are but two of the 'happenings' I can point back to the installation of SP1a

GRRRRRR

MC