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When you boot your computer into Safe mode and then restart your computer into normal mode, the icons on the desktop may be arranged differently.

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Trademarks

Article ID: 256196 - Last Review: January 27, 2007 - Revision: 1.3

Desktop Icons May Be Rearranged After You Boot into Safe Mode

System TipThis article applies to a different version of Windows than the one you are using. Content in this article may not be relevant to you. Visit the Windows Vista Solution Center
This article was previously published under Q256196

SYMPTOMS

When you boot your computer into Safe mode and then restart your computer into normal mode, the icons on the desktop may be arranged differently.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the desktop icon locations are stored in the Shelliconcache file. This file is automatically deleted and re-created when you boot your computer into Safe mode.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, manually rearrange your desktop icons to meet your preferences after you boot your computer into Safe mode.

MORE INFORMATION

When you boot into Safe mode, the standard display adaptor is used and the screen area is changed to 640x480 pixels. The desktop icons are "compressed" to fit onto the currently viewable area of the screen. When you boot back into normal mode, the icons are still arranged so they can be viewed in a 640x480 display configuration.

APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
Keywords: 
kbenv kbprb KB256196
       

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