[Solved]Deleted desktop icon back on every start

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf

There's this thread:
[Solved]Deleted desktop icon back on every update
https://forums.opera.com/topic/33557/solved-deleted-desktop-icon-back-on-every-update

... and it is not solved at all. Actually the icon zombies back each time I start Opera, not only on updates. For me, this is the single most annoying thing about Opera.
I don't know where to find bug reports, maybe this is an open issue.
Would anyone have a hint, please?
Thanks!

leocg

leocg Moderator Volunteer @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf What version of Opera?

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf @leocg

@leocg Latest, 64.0.3417.83
Thanks!

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf What version of Windows?

64.0.3417.83

Is that the default 64-bit version of Opera or are you using the 32-bit version?

Goto the URL opera://about. What's the install path? Did you install for the current user or all users or a standalone installation? Is Opera installed on another drive?

The reason I ask is that only a very select few have this specific problem of Opera creating a desktop icon on startup (as opposed to the updater creating a new desktop icon issue), but no one has been able to figure out the exact cause or even reproduce the issue. So, all the details you can provide the better.

Also, do you have multiple monitors? At least one user that has your issue is using multiple monitors. If that's the case, try disconnecting all extra monitors so you only have one to see if the problem goes away. If so, then at least we know it's related to multiple monitors.

And or, are you using multiple desktop in Windows 10 for example?

Can you try this for your Opera Stable (64)?

A Former User @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf i dunno if this will help.. not sue how your deleting..

try delete this way.. highlight the icon then hit Shift + Delete..

and or your windows user account may be corrupt..

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf @Guest

@nvmjustagirl Thanks for the suggestions. I always use Shift+Delete. The account may be corrupt, but I don't think so. I think I'd have other issues as well then, but this is the only thing I'm aware of ...

@burnout426
Copy/paste - I hope this helps:

Browser-Identifikation
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/77.0.3865.120 Safari/537.36 OPR/64.0.3417.83

Pfade
Installations-Verzeichnis: C:\Program Files\Opera
Profil-Verzeichnis: C:\Users\Myself\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable
Cache-Verzeichnis: C:\Users\Myself\AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable

I believe it's for all users, because I always choose that. On same drive as all other programs.
I do have two monitors and two desktops.
It's not a developer version.

I removed the second screen and desktop, but it made no difference. As soon as I start Opera, the icon is back.
Maybe I need to restart the PC before this can have an effect? Not tonight, though, maybe tomorrow.

Thanks!

A Former User @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf Also check this...

C:\Users\Public\Desktop.. see if opera is there.. if so delete it..

check this webpage and also read the comments also by scrolling down at the bottom of page..

https://www.askvg.com/solution-windows-desktop-does-not-save-user-customized-settings/

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf said in Deleted desktop icon back on every start:

I removed the second screen and desktop, but it made no difference. As soon as I start Opera, the icon is back.
Maybe I need to restart the PC before this can have an effect? Not tonight, though, maybe tomorrow.

Okay, Let us know how things work after a restart of Windows when there's only one monitor and desktop. If it still doesn't it, uninstall Opera and reinstall with only one monitor present to see if there's any difference. Then, if the icon no longer appears, see if you can get it to appear when hooking your other monitor back up.

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf @burnout426

@burnout426 I restarted, no difference, then uninstalled and reinstalled, no difference.
(Edit: And Opera also set itself to be the default browser without asking - a rather aggressive move)

A Former User @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf if ya deleted desktop icon and it re-appears after every reboot..

then try this..

the only way to show if there's a program or sumthing preserve 'n the icon or files is that you reboot your Computer to Safemode.. delete these icons or files and reboot back to Safemode again to see if the icon still exist..

it will help to narrow down things..

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf @Guest

@nvmjustagirl The icon does not re-appear after reboot. It re-appears each time I start Opera.

A Former User @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf said in Deleted desktop icon back on every start:

@nvmjustagirl The icon does not re-appear after reboot. It re-appears each time I start Opera.

wnen ya get the time..

boot your pc to Safemode..

open opera

if icon appears

delete the icon

reboot back to Safemode

to see if the icon still exist..

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf said in Deleted desktop icon back on every start:

I restarted, no difference, then uninstalled and reinstalled, no difference.

Okay. I wondering if it's limited to certain GPUs. What GPU and driver do you have? It's probably a lot of trouble, but if you want to test, you can uninstall your GPU drivers so that you just have a plain, generic, Windows driver with very few resolutions just to see if there's a difference. Then, go back to your normal drivers.

It probably won't show any difference, but it's something else to rule out. Since no one knows the cause. I mean, it looks like Opera's creating the icon itself, but not sure why.

Via the Task View button on Windows 10, can you delete all your Windows 10 desktops so you only have one? Maybe it's not multiple monitors but multiple desktops. (Wasn't clear if yo utried that when trying only one monitor.)

@wdburgdorf said in Deleted desktop icon back on every start:

And Opera also set itself to be the default browser without asking - a rather aggressive move

You always need to click the "options" link in the installer, review the default options and change them if you want.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer @burnout426

@burnout426 said in Deleted desktop icon back on every start:

Via the Task View button on Windows 10, can you delete all your Windows 10 desktops so you only have one? Maybe it's not multiple monitors but multiple desktops. (Wasn't clear if yo utried that when trying only one monitor.)

I tried creating multiple desktops and messing around with Opera in different desktops, but that didn't cause Opera to create a desktop icon.

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf @burnout426

@burnout426 @nvmjustagirl

Desktops: I did delete the second desktop already

Safemode: I'll try this when I find time, maybe this afternoon. I am sure that the icon will still be gone after reboot, but will see if it appears when starting Opers

GPU: Too much effort for very low chance of interesting result
It's a Nvidia 1060, nothing unusual, I think

What I will also check, is if this is related to user accounts. I'll try if this happens on other accounts.

Default browser: "You always need to click the "options" link in the installer, review the default options and change them if you want."
Yes, that's how it usually works, but not this time, no choice of options. Will pay attention next time.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer @wdburgdorf

@wdburgdorf said in Deleted desktop icon back on every start:

What I will also check, is if this is related to user accounts.

Sounds good.

Also, another user had this issue even with a standalone installation of Opera, which is super-weird as a standalone installation of Opera should never create a desktop shortcut on it's own. If yo uwant, download the Opera installer, launch it, click "options", set "install path" to a folder named "Opera Test" on your desktop, set "install for" to "standalone installation", uncheck "import data from default browser" and install. Launch that Opera. It shouldn't create a desktop icon. But, if it does, that's suggesting something else is creating the icon.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer

Another thing you can do is to use Process Monitor. Start it up and then launch Opera. Then, you can look for the createFile that creates the Opera Browser.lnk file on the desktop and check to see what process is creating it. If it's Opera, that's not going to help much. But, if it's not, that'd be telling.

wdburgdorf

wdburgdorf

The Process Monitor is interesting. Took me a while to get it right. Please find the three log entries that I found for the icon attached.

Well actually, "You do not have enough privileges for this action." - I cannot attach. So here are the contents:

"Time of Day","Process Name","PID","Operation","Path","Result","Detail"
"14:56:55.3420591","launcher.exe","15572","CreateFile","D:\Desktop\Opera browser.lnk","SUCCESS","Desired Access: Generic Read/Write, Delete, Write DAC, Disposition: OverwriteIf, Options: Sequential Access, Non-Directory File, Attributes: A, ShareMode: None, AllocationSize: 0, OpenResult: Created"
"14:56:55.3426861","launcher.exe","15572","CreateFile","D:\Desktop\Opera browser.lnk","SUCCESS","Desired Access: Generic Read/Write, Delete, Write DAC, Disposition: OpenIf, Options: Sequential Access, Synchronous IO Non-Alert, Non-Directory File, Attributes: A, ShareMode: None, AllocationSize: 0, OpenResult: Opened"
"14:56:55.3544577","launcher.exe","15572","CreateFile","D:\Desktop\Opera browser.lnk","SUCCESS","Desired Access: Read Attributes, Disposition: Open, Options: Open Reparse Point, Attributes: n/a, ShareMode: Read, Write, Delete, AllocationSize: n/a, OpenResult: Opened"

mathias87

mathias87

I'm encountering this bug as well for at least a week.
Opera version 64.0.3417.92.

Looking forward to a solution.

burnout426

burnout426 Volunteer

Okay, so it appears to be Opera's launcher.exe. Can you check the properties of the shortcut or pinned taskbar icon to make sure the command is just "C:\Program Files\Opera\launcher.exe" and nothing else?. Also, try starting Opera directly by browsing to the Opera program files folder and launching launcher.exe directly to see if it makes any difference.

"D:\Desktop\Opera browser.lnk"

That's weird. Do you have a D drive with a Desktop folder on it? You said Opera is installed to:

Installations-Verzeichnis: C:\Program Files\Opera
Profil-Verzeichnis: C:\Users\Myself\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software\Opera Stable
Cache-Verzeichnis: C:\Users\Myself\AppData\Local\Opera Software\Opera Stable

, so I don't see why Opera would try to generate a desktop icon on "D:".

If there's no "D:" or D:\Desktop folder, I guess Opera might default to creating the file on your normal desktop.

Do you have a junction set up between d:\desktop and C:\Users\Myself\desktop?