Don't know why this got put into the ChitChat but I "might" have an idea

When you start your computer and everything loads up the section in the registry called "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" is "Overloaded" with a section in the HKEY_USERS that relates to the person who is currently logged in.

I think there is a default and there should also be an entry for every person configured on the machine. That is why when each person makes their own changes to the way things look, desktop icons etc it is different when the next person does it.

Now if you are changing the registry settings for HKEY_CURRENT_USER then they will naturally be lost when you restart because that section of the registry is ALWAYS blown away and overwritten depending on who you log in as.

This means you have to make your changes either to the default user in HKEY_USERS or to the specific user you want to effect.

Hope it helps.