Why are my files copying to the desktop when I am only trying to move them?

This is the wierdest thing. I have been a Mac user for 20 years and never saw this and can't seem to solve. My drive was bloated to capacity so I backed up, erased the drive and reinstalled Tiger and and my programs, transferred all my data and booted up.
My main files are in two folders on the root drive, each time I try to take a file or folder out and place it on the desktop, the mac copys it to the desktop instead of just moving it.
Like I said I have been using my mac the same way for years moving files between folders and the desktop constantly and I have never encountered this. The only way I have ever copyed files to the desktop is by holding the option key when dragging.
I only have one user installed. So I am cluless why it is doing this.
Soemone please help.
Powerbook G4 1 Ghz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

This looks like a case of incorrectly set file permissions. Holding down option in this case should move instead of copy, but it may prompt you for a password. For ideas on fixing up your permissions refer to these articles:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh669.html
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106712
Also note that copy is the default action when dragging between mounted volumes, partitions, disk images, etc.
PowerMac G5 (June 2004) 2x1.8GHz 1.25GB, PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI) 1x1GHz 768MB Mac OS X (10.4.3)

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