I searched for help regarding a problem I had when I upgraded Windows
98 to Windows XP Professional where all the icons appeared twice on the
Desktop. Microsoft's website seemed to have nothing that would come up
when I searched about this problem. After reading a couple of posts
here, I was able to work in the right direction and figure out the
problem!

The problem lies in the registry entries that are supposed to point to
the Documents and Settings\All Users profile. Instead of pointing to
the correct folder,
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell
Folders\Common Desktop was pointing to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop instead of
%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop. This key causes a change to an entry in
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\Shell
Folders\Common Desktop which refers to the absolute location of the
current user profile (usually C:\Documents and
Settings\UserName\Desktop). After making these corrections and logging
off/logging on, the double icons ceased. Everything was as it should
be again.

This area of the registry also contains entries that refer to other
parts of "All Users" profile and can be the cause of Start Menu
problems or any other pointers refered to in this area. Check this out
if you are having DOUBLE TROUBLE!

Lee T. Hawkins
Lorain County Community College
Elyria, Ohio

Which is why a clean installation is reccommended, not an upgrade
Followed by an update of chipset and other drivers from hw manu sites, NOT
winupdate

"TheAutomator" <LeeHawkins@Core.com> wrote in message
news:1136218092.571426.84920@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com...
> I searched for help regarding a problem I had when I upgraded Windows
> 98 to Windows XP Professional where all the icons appeared twice on the
> Desktop. Microsoft's website seemed to have nothing that would come up
> when I searched about this problem. After reading a couple of posts
> here, I was able to work in the right direction and figure out the
> problem!
>
> The problem lies in the registry entries that are supposed to point to
> the Documents and Settings\All Users profile. Instead of pointing to
> the correct folder,
> HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell
> Folders\Common Desktop was pointing to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop instead of
> %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop. This key causes a change to an entry in
> HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\Shell
> Folders\Common Desktop which refers to the absolute location of the
> current user profile (usually C:\Documents and
> Settings\UserName\Desktop). After making these corrections and logging
> off/logging on, the double icons ceased. Everything was as it should
> be again.
>
> This area of the registry also contains entries that refer to other
> parts of "All Users" profile and can be the cause of Start Menu
> problems or any other pointers refered to in this area. Check this out
> if you are having DOUBLE TROUBLE!
>
> Lee T. Hawkins
> Lorain County Community College
> Elyria, Ohio
>

Duplicate Icons in the Desktop - Windows 2000/XP
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/duplicatedesktop.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1136218092.571426.84920@f14g2000cwb.googlegro ups.com,
TheAutomator <LeeHawkins@Core.com> hunted and pecked:
> I searched for help regarding a problem I had when I upgraded Windows
> 98 to Windows XP Professional where all the icons appeared twice on the
> Desktop. Microsoft's website seemed to have nothing that would come up
> when I searched about this problem. After reading a couple of posts
> here, I was able to work in the right direction and figure out the
> problem!
>
> The problem lies in the registry entries that are supposed to point to
> the Documents and Settings\All Users profile. Instead of pointing to
> the correct folder,
> HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell
> Folders\Common Desktop was pointing to %USERPROFILE%\Desktop instead of
> %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop. This key causes a change to an entry in
> HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\Shell
> Folders\Common Desktop which refers to the absolute location of the
> current user profile (usually C:\Documents and
> Settings\UserName\Desktop). After making these corrections and logging
> off/logging on, the double icons ceased. Everything was as it should
> be again.
>
> This area of the registry also contains entries that refer to other
> parts of "All Users" profile and can be the cause of Start Menu
> problems or any other pointers refered to in this area. Check this out
> if you are having DOUBLE TROUBLE!
>
> Lee T. Hawkins
> Lorain County Community College
> Elyria, Ohio