user desktop

[Bill Walsh]

My wife and I have two user accounts on Windows XP.
However, when I add or delete a program icon from my
desktop, it also is deleted from her desktop.
Essentially, how do I get both user accounts their own
unique desktop with unique desktop icons?

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Desktop icons are stored in:

Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop

and

Documents and Settings\<username>\Desktop

If the shortcut is in the All Users\Desktop folder, it will appear on all Desktops, and if you delete it, it will disappear from all Desktops. Copy and paste the shortcut to the user's desktop folder that you want it in, then delete the original.