Thanks to all for the great information.

I took a look in the file system and there is 'system administrator,' 
'all users,' 'default user.' and 'me user.'  Between 'all user' and 'me 
user' there appears to be all of the items in the start menu, in the 
programs item, and all the other remaining items in there.  The 'default 
user' seems to just contain the 'default stuff' and 'system 
administrator' has almost nothing in it.

I am signed on as the "me user" which, if I understand this right, 
should give me all the items for the "me user" and "all users."  If 
that's true, when I save something while logged on as "me user" to the 
desktop, should I not be able to find it on the desktop?

Now, let me make it even more interesting--after an instance of the 
above happening, using Windows Explorer, I went looking for where the 
file was saved.  It was not on any of the user or system administrator 
desktops.  So, I saved the file, again, to a 'temp' account I created 
and then tried to move it to the "me user" desktop.  To my surprise, 
Windows told me that the file was already there and asked if I wanted to 
replace it.  I said "yes" and it replaced it, but, again, I could not 
find it on the desktop.  So, I restarted Windows and, tadaaaa, there the 
file was on the desktop.

The above has happened a couple of times.  Doesn't happen every time and 
doesn't seem to happen every time even with the same program.  I am 
REALLY confused!

Any help would be appreciated...

Scott D. Burr wrote:
> This mess is caused by having more than one account on your computer that
> you are using. Each login account has a separate folder called Desktop and
> also Start Menu/Programs in the Documents and Settings folder. If you want
> all your desktop items to be available in all your accounts, move them to
> the All Users account. The same goes with Programs you have installed, put
> them in the All Users account.
>
> See, the Administrator account and your Standard login account will combine
> with the All Users account to show all the items that are specific to all
> users and whichever account you logged into (ex. Login to Administrator, you
> get All Users+Administrator. Login to Standard and you get All
> Users+Standard)
>
> Hope you can follow this - read it over a couple of times and it will start
> to make sense.
> Scott D. Burr
> [log in to unmask]
> www.pdxpc.net
>
> "Under no circumstances will I ever purchase anything offered to me as the
> result of an unsolicited email message. Nor will I forward chain letters,
> petitions, mass mailings, or virus warnings to large numbers of others. This
> is my contribution to the survival of the online community."
>
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Loy Pressley [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
> Sent: Sunday, November 12, 2006 12:21 PM
> Subject: Using Windows XP
>
> I recently changed to Windows XP SP2 on my home computer system.  I have a
> System Administrator sign on identity and my usual sign on.  Normally, I'm
> signed on with my usual identity.  Sometimes, I have occasion to save a file
> to the desktop.  However, sometimes the file I've saved does not show up on
> the desktop?  Why does this happen?  How can I make Windows save the file to
> the desktop where I can find it easily?
>
> Also, I have many shortcuts in the start menu and I want to combine some of
> them in a folder.  I right click on start and select explore and all of the
> shortcuts are not there.  I go back and select the start menu and all the
> programs are still there.  What is going on?
>
> I have been around computers and working on computers since the Amiga and
> AppleII days.  I have to be pretty dense, though, not to be able to figure
> out what's going on.  I understand that there are different desktops for
> each user but what I don't understand is why. when I save something to the
> desktop, it does not, oftentimes, show up on my desktop and I have to
> scramble around to find it somewhere in the C: drive file system.
>
> Thanks for any help answering what I know must be a stupid question.
>
> Loy
>
>       "Hold No Punches.." Rode brings you great shareware/freeware
>         programs with his honest opinions in this weekly column.
>                        http://freepctech.com/rode
>   

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