Windows Explorer Settings not being saved....

[Hotmail[Mike]]

Hello, all...

I'm having a strange problem...
My windows settings, such as my taskbar position, toolbars....etc. aren't being saved...

I have all the latest updates, for everything, I run winXP (home), Graphics: Intel 8485G/GL/GE/PE/GV.

I've also run a virus scan (Avast!), and adware/spyware scans ( Both Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware), returned no results.

I am also an administrator, incidentally, this problem is only on my user account... as the other 2 user accounts register changes just fine.

Any and all help, or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[cyclic]

delete these registry keys (they will be recreated on rebooting) and your settings should stay put for you.

HKCU_ software\microsoft\windows\shellnoroam\bagmru

and the one next to it
HKCU _software\microsoft\windows\shellnoroam\bags
delete both and reboot, test your settings.

These are where all your personal touches are saved but are notorious for failing in their duty, deleting them forces a recreate next boot with default values, now changes you make will stick thereafter.

[Hotmail[Mike]]

Hmm... I deleted the entries and restarted, but the problem remains...


Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[Hotmail[Mike]]

[Bump]

[Chimowowo]

Just recreate the profile if it's the only one having it. Login to a profile that works (has to have admin rights)

Browse to the documents and settings, and rename the documents folder for your profile (I usually do <username>.bak)
then reboot and login to the username that has the problem. Windows will rebuild it.
Test to see if it works fine then

Then log out, and back into the first username and copy the files from the backup to the new username.

That should restore all files and data. Settings will be lost though (you will probably have to reset up your email program, but all the emails will still be there, and more things like that)

Let me know if you don't want to do that, or if it doesn't work.
If it works when windows rebuilds it, then doesn't when you restore the files then there is a specific file that's causing the problem.

[cyclic]

Are you sure you deleted the correct keys as this usually solves that problem. I've never known it not to.

[Hotmail[Mike]]

I'm sorry for not replying, but for some reason I couldn't access this site... I think it has something to do with ZoneAlarm. Anyhoo,

Are you sure you deleted the correct keys as this usually solves that problem. I've never known it not to.

Yep, I deleted exactly the ones you said to delete. But it still didn't work, I even went back and did it again, but still no luck.

@Chimowowo: Thanks, I did that, and it worked.

Though I haven't transfered all the files back yet... as 23 Gigs will probably take a hefty amount of time to copy :)

I did, however have one small problem, I cannot set a custom desktop background, I could only use the default solid 'fill.' do you know why this could be?

This one's totally random, but would anyone know where firefox stores user info? All my settings are lost (but that's to be expected, sinced I just wiped out my user acct ;)) and I'd like to get them back, without having to set them all over again, it could take awhile.

Thanks for all your help guys, I appreciate it more than you know.