Is there a way with XP Pro and IE 7 to stabilize desktop icons?

[Giv-me-a-brak]

My icons change on my desktop -- or disappear, leaving regular folders, etc.
In cases where I've created a shortcut to desktop and a domain's icon is
created, it'll be gone within a week.

I use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware daily, and run One Care weekly.

All updates are current.

 

[Twayne]

My icons change on my desktop -- or disappear, leaving regular
folders, etc. In cases where I've created a shortcut to desktop and a
domain's icon is created, it'll be gone within a week.

Is there a repeatable pattern to how long it takes to disappear?

I use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware daily, and run One Care weekly.

You mean Ad-aware, not "Ad-Aware daily", right?

All updates are current.

How current? Within the last day or so is "current".

Did you update them just before using them? That's best practice.

You didn't list any anti-virus. Do you have it installed and is it
updated? If you have none, Symantec and McAfee both offer online scans
for free - they take a lot of time to run but work well. If you don't
have AV, get it. AVG and AVAST are free ones available.

In the future you also need to install a firewall such as at least XP's
(available as of SP2) or better yet something like ZoneAlarm.
WinPatrol is a handy program too. EVERY program that runs needs to
be given permission at least once. Lots of other features too. Free.

Add Spybot Search & Destroy to your list of malware tools.

Look in Event Viewer logs for hints.

It could also be simple file corruption:
It might be faster and less frustrating to simply back up your important
data and reinstall XP from scratch, but try a Repair Install first.

HTH some

 

[Elmo]

My icons change on my desktop -- or disappear, leaving regular folders, etc.
In cases where I've created a shortcut to desktop and a domain's icon is
created, it'll be gone within a week.

I use Windows Defender, Ad-Aware daily, and run One Care weekly.

All updates are current.

Here are a couple of things to try:

Line 121. Increase Icon Cache
Line 30. Windows XP Doesn't Save User Settings
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

[Giv-me-a-brak]

Sheesh -- have Avast, OneCare, Windows Defender, Ad-Aware ... al updates
current from MS.

 

[smlunatick]

Sheesh -- have Avast, OneCare, Windows Defender, Ad-Aware ... al updates
current from MS.

One Care does not have a good reputation.

I use Iconoid to save the positions of my desktop icons.

 

[Giv-me-a-brak]

Well, I uninstalled IE 7 b/c many problems since installing it from MS site
.... now no IE at all will open up...