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    Weird Program Folder Appears on Desktop

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by djk21108, May 5, 2008.

  1. djk21108

    djk21108 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm In vista. And when I do stuff in my start bar a folder called programs magically appears on my desktop. Also my start bar got gutted somehow.. :(
     
    djk21108, May 5, 2008
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  2. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Try making a new account and see if it's normal.
     
    pixelot, May 5, 2008
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  3. deputy963

    deputy963 Notebook Evangelist

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    The problem with Vista is it combines the All User start folder and your account start folder, but sometimes duplicates the user start folder listings. This appears to happen more often when UAC is disabled or settings changed from default.

    Open both location and create your start menu in the All Users start folder, then delete the contents of your user start folder. If you aren't comfortable deleting the contents you can create a new folder on your desktop and copy the contents there before deleting.

    User Start - C>Users>your user name>AppData>Roaming>Microsoft>Windows>Start Menu

    All Users Start - C>Program Data>Microsoft>Windows>Start Menu

    The Programs folder that appeared on your desktop is the default folder in the above locations. You've probably dragged/dropped it there by accident. Open it and use the contents to help build a new Start Menu in the location above.
     
    deputy963, May 6, 2008
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