Weird desktop problem

Hagar

I'm running XP Sp2 Prof. I don't know how this happened or how to get rid of it. I seem to have a folder sidebar as part of my desktop. It works and all but I don't want it. Does anyone know how to get rid of it. Thanks.

http://members.boards.ie/hagar/Desktop.jpg

Spunog UIE

how strange, never saw that before. I don't use that, even in normal folders tho. You can turn it off for all folders in Tools>Folder Options> Use windows classic folders apply okay etc.

Or maybe its an active desktop issue... display properties>desktop>customise desktop buttan>web tab.


[edit]

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm #15, never tried used anything from this site, know if its to be trusted or if that works, but worth a look, first thing that popped into google

thetourist

this is very unusual - have you found a solution - are you sure it's not a bit of spy/adware or something

Hagar

I haven't found the answer yet. I don't think it's spyware or adware as I run AVG Spybot and Ad aware.

At this point I'm beginning to think a re-install of windows is on the cards.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Man that's crazy, I've never seen that before...
one thing I'd try is to open windows explorer and navigate to your \documents and settings\...<username>...\desktop\ folder and see if there's a desktop.ini in there (make sure you've got explorers options set to show all files including hidden/system/protected)
Not sure if desktop.ini will even do that, but it's worth a shot.

thetourist

I don't think it's spyware or adware as I run AVG Spybot and Ad aware.

At this point I'm beginning to think a re-install of windows is on the cards.

2 scans is not enough to discover all adware - i would run at least 6 or 8 before i considered reinstalling windows - also try posting to some other sites and try to get some mvp's (microsoft valued professionals ) involved - the site mentioned earlier kellys corner is one example


here are some scans i would advise
microsoft antispyware
spybot s&D
pest patrol ( if you can get a trial version - though i think it wont allow you to remove stuff but you might get some clues)
cwshredder
maybe some antitrojan stuff too trojan remover and a+ come to mind

2 other things i would do is repair you registry using for example advanced uninstaller or one of the many registry repair tools and run a system file check - just open the run box and type sfc.exe/scannow ( for xp ) - you will have to have your os disk handy though

actually i dont think it's adware any more
did you see these ... i did a google search and it appears to be a bug in the registry ... i would try the last 2 suggestions before you do either of the things on these sites - esp the last one - as he says it restores hundreds of reg setttings back to defaults - i presume some of your settings would go with them - maybe make a restore pt beforehand just in case
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:aHFzKczsiJIJ:vboverdrive.extreme-vb.net/forum/printthread.phtml%3Ft%3D51491+%22common+tasks+on+desktop%22&hl=en
http://www.highdots.com/forums/windows-xp/common-tasks-desktop-1259208.html

Hagar

Gumboots, you Sir, are a legend.

The first link you provided did the trick.
Not only that my laptop is now booting up in about 1/10th yes 1/10th of the time it used to take. There must have been something really wrong with the registry.

Thanks to all who took the trouble to help.

thetourist

glad to be of help

ps if you havent already done so i suggest you donwload the triall of advanced uninstaller and get it to do a defragment of your registry - if it had been in bad shape then a defragment could even speed things up a LOT more - i have seen a defragmented registry slow a computer down to half it's normal speed
there's a fix registry option in that progrma too --- but use the registry backup first just in case

good luck

Hagar

For what it's worth this happened again tonight.
It can be triggered by trying to set a gif as the desktop twice in a row.

Cryos

Hagar wrote:

For what it's worth this happened again tonight.
It can be triggered by trying to set a gif as the desktop twice in a row.

In your file associations make sure gif is associated with Windows Picture and Fax viewer and not internet explorer, which is what it looks likes happening :S