Some automated process or other seems to think I want desktop icons I haven't used in a while to be automatically cleaned from the board. I've forgotten how to stop that. I'm using Windows 7 (so it should be the same process as a Vista user).

That doesn't help. That just tells me how to add and remove basic icons like "My Computer" and "My Documents". I'm talking about the automated cleaning process that sweeps up icons that haven't been used in a given period of time.

Did you do a clean install Windows yourself or is it some shitty pre-built installation? Only it could have a lot of unnecessary background crap in there if it is.
I'd check both msconfig and task scheduler (use the search bar in the start menu) and see what's running when it shouldn't be.

EDIT: found it. It's not its own task any longer (as on XP) but a subset of one. You can fix it by backing up and removing the appropriate scheduling file as described on this page.
Turning off Maintenance altogether would also work but isn't recommended because it performs a variety of actually useful tasks.

No guys. It's an automatic process to remove icons from your desktop that you haven't used in a while, if ever. TBH, I've not had it on my W7, but XP-Pro used to ask me once a week to remove them.
The only thing I can think to check is System maintenance in control panel.
Edit : look for something similar to this : Link

As a matter of fact, yes. Bio Shock 2, Red Faction Guerrilla, and Bionic Commando are the primary offenders.

I had this same problem a few weeks ago, I think it has something to do with games explorer and how shortcuts are handled in that but I'm not sure. Basically I had 5 random game icons disapear with no links other then games explorer to explain it. I'd readd them but just randomly they would keep disapearing. What I had to do to fix it is rather then readd desktop short cuts from games explorer, I went to the games proper folder and added the desktop shortcut from the games .exe program.
I now haven't had any desktop icons disapear since.

All I could find is that Windows 7 does not have a cleanup wizard any longer like XP has.
So, I am unsure what is taking place if this is what you think is happening. I still use XP as for some reason I cannot get 7 64 bit to run properly on my system.

That was always such a dumb feature. Didn't even realize it happens on Windows 7 but that's because I don't have any icons on my desktop. Just 4 gadgets and a recycle bin. But then again, I hate cluttered desktops.
A common problem on google and yet there's no solution to be found.

For Windows 7, refer to this page. For XP, refer to this page instead. Vista lacks this feature entirely.

Why did microsoft have to make it more annoying to disable in windows 7? I appreciate the auto deletion of broken links though.

To add to this, you can download take ownership here. The one you linked to is dead now.