Icons auto-arrange after removing malware

After removing the Sirefef malware, my icons arrange to the left side on refresh or reboot, as if auto arrange is selected.

Please refer to this thread in the Malware Removal forum:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1752139#post1752139
(Sirefef.R & Sirefef.AH - roboots after 1 minute)

Chaslang recommended posting here to see if there are any solutions.

 

Does explorer remember your folder views?
Open your Run box (Windows key + R) and enter:

Code:

regsvr32 /i shdocvw.dll

Then press OK.
If you receive a success message, see if this resolves the issue.

 

Explorer does remember the folder views.

Ran the text and got the following:

RegSvr32
The module "shdocvw.dll was loaded but the
entry-point DllRegisterServer was not found.
Make sure that "shdocvw.dll" is a valid DLL or OCX file
and then try again.

 

After looking through the malware thread, the system files were re-registered prior to fixing the registry information for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{42aedc87-2188-41fd-b9a3-0c966feabec1}

Right click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator, then enter:

Code:

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

Reboot if it successfully installs.

If that doesn't resolve the issue, then run Windows Repair again as instructed in the malware thread and from the repair options select:
* Register System Files

Let me know how things go.

 

It successfully installed. Rebooted. No change.

Ran Windows Repair and Register System Files. Reboot. No change.

Did all this once more to double check. No change.

 

This is just a guess, but sometimes this method can fix that type of problem.

Try setting Auto Arrange ON, refresh the desktop, reboot, set Auto Arrange OFF and then reboot again.

I know that's a simple dumb solution, but sometimes it works.

I found the following solution which involves a registry edit.
Judging from your attached file, FRST.txt, you are using Windows 7 Professional (32bit).

On my system, Windows XP, I have both Auto Arrange and Align to Grid turned ON and the registry setting
matches what is indicated in the following thread:
turn off align to grid on desktop
The setting for turning OFF Auto Arrange is shown.
============

This doesn't fix the problem but may be helpful:
DesktopOK

 

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I think this solution may be more appropriate for Windows 7.

Microsoft Answers: desktop icons auto arranging, auto arrange is OFF

Suggest you make a copy of the file before deleting.

 

Set Auto Arrange ON, refreshed the desktop and rebooted. Auto Arrange turned itself OFF (not checked) when rebooted.

I am using Desktop Restore, but having to do that is a pain. Hoping for a solution and not have to reinstall Win 7.

Deleted the IconCache.db file. Rebooted and new .db created. No change in behavior. Tried with Auto Arrange No and again with OFF. Same results.

 

@KenB2014

I have done some more research and found that Windows 7 users have reported this issue at least as far back as March 2009.
IMHO, doing a reinstall to possibly? fix this is somewhat drastic.

Here are some other possible solutions. These are separate fixes.

• Right click desktop > Personalize > Change Desktop Icons(top left) > Uncheck Allow themes to change desktop icons.
  --
• Click the small arrow left of the flag/clock on the taskbar, and select Customize ,and then, Restore default icon behavior.

Source: SevenForums: Desktop Icons Moving

Although this was intended for Windows XP, you can check the following Registry setting.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

;Auto Arrange off, Align to Grid Off:

"FFlags"=dword:00000220

;Auto Arrange off - Align to Grid On:

"FFlags"=dword:00000224

 

I had previously tried all of these and no help. I did do them all again and the behavior is still the same.

It is strange that I haven't seen this on three machines that I built and run Win 7 on since it came out, except for this one. It was fine until the malware infection and it started after the removal process.

I too have done a lot of checking for solutions and really don't find anyone that has gotten it corrected.

What do you think of a repair install?

 

If auto arrange icons is your biggest problem, you must be bored.

 

I think that's your call.
I am not qualified to advise you about that.

Hopefully others will contribute with appropriate comments / suggestions.

 

Haha. Well, this install has behaved well. If I do a full reinstall, it will be the 64 bit version. Should have done that from the start and I did update the other two.

Don't really have the time or energy, and still hoping for a cure.

 

Thanks for all the research. If you do see something new, I'll be watching.
Ken

 

I resolved these problems. In addition to the icon desktop issue, Windows Update stopped working again.

I did a repair (upgrade) install of Windows 7 and all updates, and all function has returned to normal. The icons even returned to their original layout before they started auto aligning. The original file must have existed, but was not being accessed for the desktop once the install was corrupted.

It was painless to do the repair and may be the only fix...I haven't seen anyone on any forum successful with attempts short of this.

Thanks for the help you all give us and I hope this helps others resolve this issue.

 

_nullptr you are my god. I have been fighting this problem forever, and your simple fix FIXED it! :-D

--noconflicts

 

Thanks Noconflicts, I'm glad it helped someone

 

ME <Duh.

Actually, I just realized it was your OTHER Suggestion that worked:
regsvr32 /i shdocvw.dll

Still, it solved my issue and you are still my god!