You can also do as Brink has suggested in other posts, and that is to create another user account and copy your desktop shortcuts from your previous account to your new one.
Ive done this and its about the closest you can get to your original account without refreshing or resetting..
Ther apps are restored, all your programs still load, your docs and music will all be there..
If at any point you dont like it, just log back in under your other account...
Im working on this issue currently, theres an enormous amount of data to go through, I beleive its in the registry or a .dat/.cfg file somewhere.. Theres just sooo much to muddle through.
I believe it may be in the local profile, its not the apps themselves..