Hi,
It doesn't sound like typical Windows behavior, do they change system settings or install application before this issue arise?
How about run Windows 7 with clean boot to troubleshooting? For your reference:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135
Also, here's an article about Desktop shortcuts disappear in Windows 7:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/978980
1. Remove all but 4 broken shortcuts from your desktop.
2. Disable the System Maintenance troubleshooter.
Since this issue is solved by force update group policy, I afraid that something has been modified in group policy after this issue arise. We need to monitor the change in group policy, please refer to:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ericfitz/archive/2005/08/04/447951.aspx
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Allen Wang
TechNet Community Support
