desktop files trashed on startup

[johnny5r]

So I've got a funky one.

I currently have a Dual 2.0 G5 running 10.4.11. I have had this computer for quite a while and this problem has started recently. I haven't installed anything for a LONG time so I don't think that it is something I've done recently.

When I restart or startup my computer, files that I have on my desktop will mysteriously be found in the trash. This doesn't happen everytime, as far as I can see it's a random occurrence.

It scared me the first time it happened. I simply restarted my computer and and found that there were only the two icons for my harddrives on the desktop and my important files were missing. I searched high and low throughout my drive thinking somehow they were moved and finally found that a folder labeled "Desktop" had been created in the trash and my missing files in it. I was curious how this was happening so I restarted the computer again, only this time nothing happened. It was a few days later when it occurred again and it happened just now spawning me to do some research and eventually lead to this posting. Apparently I'm the only one experiencing this problem.

I know I could do an archive and install or a clean install, but I'm looking more so to see if anyone knows how/why this happening.

[Curiosity]

I do not know why that would happen, but I was advised not to store files on my desktop because that can seriously slow down the computer. It would be better to store important files in your user account in a different directory than Desktop. To get quick access to such a directory, you can put a shortcut to that directory in the sidebar of the Finder.