DESKTOP PERMISSIONS PROBLEM?

[Al Reaud]

So I had to do a system restore, and had major problems with getting the
original accounts and data back up and running. However, I have one small
irritating problem left.

I run as a limited user account normally. So after restoring and getting
everything working, the desktop on that account will only show correctly if
the account is set as a computer administrator. If set as a limited user
account, the left side of the Start menu is blank, the desktop background
doesn't show, and the icons all auto arrange on the left. Changes to the
desktop aren't saved.

Going back to the Administrator account, I change the above account back to
computer administrator, and everything looks fine when I log back on to it!
Any help would be appreciated, as I can't seem to find anything online with
this same problem. I'd bet it's a permission/ownership issue. I just don't
know where this information is stored...

Running XP Pro, SP 3, Compaq Presario SR2020NX, Athlon 64 3.5GHz, 2G memory,
experienced user (been working with Win since Win286...)

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Perhaps you'd better tell us about the "major problems" which you thought
might be resolved by using System Restore, Al?

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

System Restore is not going to undo the affects of a hijackware infection.

 

[Al Reaud]

The original problem was an issue with Norton 360. Applying the fix
suggested by Symantec (using the removal tool and reinstalling Norton 360)
caused that missing hal.dll problem. So I did a system non-destructive
restore, which left all of my account data intact, but inaccessible. Maybe
there was a better way to resolve that missing hal.dll issue, but I am not
aware of it.

In the process of modifying ownerships and permissions to recover access to
my original account folders, I must have missed something that allows a
non-administrator account to store/load the desktop configuration at log
off/log on.

I'm pretty sure the system is clean. I had just ran a scan with Norton 360,
shut down my machine, and Windows wouldn't start on power up (due to the
missing hal.dll). Pain in the arse, as I've got an engineering workstation
with lots of applications that need to be re-installed. It works fine now
other than the issue with my personal account having to be an administrator
to get the original desktop configuration back.