[RESOLVED] Windows XP Forgets User Customizations

[dclamp]

Every so often when I login to my work PC (a shared workstation among ~6 people) all my desktop icons are rearranged and all aligned left in no specific order. Additionally the taskbar is on the secondary monitor not the primary. It takes me less than a few minutes to fix it all, but there has to be some reasoning behind this happening. Anyone have insight?

This computer is on a domain. Windows XP (Yes it occurred prior to the end of support). My guess is that it is some type of domain policy that tells the PC to delete user customization or something similar.

I want to tell IT to fix it, But I want to have the correct terminology Makes it harder for them to tell me they cant fix it or dont know how to.

[Nightwalker83]

Not sure if [Solution] Windows Desktop doesn’t Save User Customized Settings would help?

[dclamp]

There are no customization packs install on this computer or anything installed that would change the registry. Although that does lead me to believe that there must be some type of group policy that resets every so often perhaps resetting that registry setting...

I googled and saw that site before posting, but noticed "Vista" and went back. Let me see if I can see the registry setting

[dclamp]

Found it. I dislike searching through the registry...

Its also the default value (Enable save settings) so that is not the issue.

[Nightwalker83]

Found it. I dislike searching through the registry...

Its also the default value (Enable save settings) so that is not the issue.

What's the location in the registry?

[dclamp]

HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions

[Lord Orwell]

is anyone else ever using that computer? If the screen res gets changed in xp, it resets all icon placements and i'm pretty sure it will move the task bar back to the primary monitor. Another good possibility is the video driver for the 2nd monitor isn't initializing before the desktop does and this will have the exact same effect because the resolution changes. I don't suppose you ever have to physically power on the 2nd monitor?

[dclamp]

Yeah this is a shared workstation. There is an older lady who uses it and sets the resolution lower so she can see it better...

I guess that explains it... Usually I am not the one to reset the resolution.