Multiple Desktop's??? Issue since upgrading to SP2

[towntopic]

ever since i upgraded to sp2, i've had a strange problem and i can't seem to figure it out. very intermintently, i will notice explorer.exe using around 25 - 37 percent cpu for approx. 1 min, then within explorer i notice multiple incedents of the desktop although they have different icons next to them. one will be the recycle bin and clickin on it takes you to the recycle bin. another my network places and so on, but one will open up and show the icon for an unrecognizable file with no text next to it. seems suspecious to me...virus scan produces nothing.

any thoughts? SP2 issue? anyone else seeing this?

 

[mikiemov]

Hi there, I am having the exact same problem..anyone else resolved this issue ??

 

[bcastner]

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/duplicatedesktop.htm

http://www.winxptutor.com/rbicon.htm

 

[mikiemov]

Bill, thanks for URLS...

 

[bcastner]

You are very welcome. I just hope they help. Checking the structure of the user profile is likely to yield a resolution.

The second link discusses how the Shell Folders such as Recycle Bin can have corrupted icon entries in the registry due to a Theme change. The advice applies to any Shell folder -- My Computer, Shared Documents, ...etc.

 

[towntopic]

i checked the registry entries and everything seemed correct. I still get the issue and it drives me crazy. One other piece to the puzzle, once the multiple desktops show up, if you hit F5 to refresh you'll get another instance of the desktop to show up. Very strange. Specs on the computer are:

Dell Latitude D800
XP SP2

 

[bcastner]

Can you possibly post an image of your desktop?

 

[towntopic]

here is a link to an image of the issue.

http://www.towntopic.net/desktop.html

 

[bcastner]

In your profile, in the Desktop folder, is there anything - a file, shorcut, folder or anything else called 'Desktop'?

Is in System Properties, Computer Name, the Computer Name called "Desktop"; and/or the Workgroup name called "Desktop"?

Final question, I cannot tell from your listing, but is the username "Desktop"?

 

[towntopic]

i do have a shortcut in the the desktop folder of the profile. i've deleted it and we'll see what happens...computer name is Woodstock within the APPCIM domain and no users named Desktop.

why would a shortcut to the desktop cause this? thanks for your help...i know i've getting some great attention with you looking into this as you're constantly voted the tipmaster!

thanks again...we'll see what happens.

 

[towntopic]

happened again...

of course closing explorer and then opening it again causes it to go away. i've run numerous spyware and anti-virus checks and they come up with nothing.

 

[bcastner]

This is a truely obscure MS KB article, I happened to save a link to it because it was so odd an issue:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q323681/

But this may in fact not be the issue. Create a temporary user and logon as that user. If the issue disappears, rebuild your user profile by creating a new username and password for yourself, and copying your old settings:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

Note the cautions about Outlook Express datastores. They have to be treated as a second step.

 

[J741]

looks like possible file system corruption to me.

From a command prompt, run the following command:
chkdsk c: /r

Be prepared to re-start your computer after this, and wait a while for it to complete checking your hard drive's file system.

- James.

My memory is not as good as it should be, and neither is my memory.

I have forgotten more than I can remember

 

[bcastner]

I would take the bet that it is a user profile issue, but it does seem an obscure problem.