This article describes how to prevent the System Preparation tool (Sysprep) from removing default and custom desktop icons and shortcuts.

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Sysprep for Windows XP cleans the desktop icons and shortcuts in an effort to reduce desktop clutter. This behavior is by design in Windows XP. To modify this behavior with Sysprep, use one of the following methods.

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To Disable Desktop Cleanup

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
To disable desktop cleanup, modify the registry as follows before you run Sysprep:

1.	Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2.	Locate and click the following key in the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
3.	On the Edit menu, point to New, click Key, and then type OemStartMenuData in the Key name box.
4.	Click the OemStartMenuData key that you made, point to New on the Edit menu, click DWORD Value, and then add the following registry value: Value name: OemDesktopCleanupDisable Value data: 1 (decimal)
5.	Quit Registry Editor.

NOTE If you use this method, the Microsoft Internet Explorer, MSN Explorer, and Microsoft Windows Media Player icons also appear on the desktop.

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To Delay Desktop Cleanup

To delay desktop cleanup, you can modify the Winbom.ini file. Adding the following parameter to the [Shell] section of the Winbom.ini file delays desktop cleanup for seven days. After seven days, the Desktop Cleanup Wizards prompts the user to clean the desktop. Place the Winbom.ini file in the Sysprep folder before you run the sysprep -factory command. This parameter specifies whether the first instance of desktop cleanup is delayed until seven days after the user first starts the computer.

The first time the user starts the computer, any shortcuts that are installed in the Desktop folder (for example, %SystemDrive%:\Documents and Settings\Username\Desktop) are moved to the %SystemDrive%\Program Files subfolder that is specified by the DesktopShortcutsFolderName setting in the [DesktopShortcutsFolder] section of the Winbom.ini file. If no folder name is specified, the default location is the %SystemDrive%\Program Files\Program Shortcuts folder.

If the initial cleanup is delayed, the Desktop Cleanup Wizard runs for the first time seven days after the first-run experience. This wizard helps the user place unused Windows desktop icons and folders in the Unused Desktop Items folder on the desktop.

NOTE: If you are using the "buildmasstoragesection=Yes" setting, do not run both the sysprep -factory and sysprep -reseal commands with the Sysprep.inf file present. Running Sysprep with the "buildmassstoragesection=Yes" setting causes Sysprep to clean the mass storage section rather than build it (if it is run a second time); it will build the mass storage section during factory mode and clean the mass storage section when you run the sysprep -reseal command afterwards.

NOTE: It is a good idea to use the registry method to completely disable desktop cleanup rather than use the DelayCleanup setting.

For additional information about Sysprep for Windows XP, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

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