One of the more annoying default settings in Windows XP is the Desktop Cleanup Wizard.  I guess I do not need Windows telling me what I should or should not have on my desktop.  Also, I have found in IT that an employee may not use a certain icon for a few months and when they need to find that icon to run a program it may be missing.  Disabling this just saves a needless call to the helpdesk.

Right Click an open area on your desktop and select Properties

In the Display Properties under the Desktop tab click on the Customize Desktop button.

Uncheck the box next to Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days.  Then hit OK.