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Windows XP forum: Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put

by: Longblades June 28, 2008 9:43 AM PDT

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Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put

by Longblades - 6/28/08 9:43 AM

The background for my desktop is a photo of my dog. I have the icons arranged around the perimeter so her face shows. The icons are also clustered according to use; work, fun, utilities etc. But every now and then they all just jump into grid formation in the top left of the screen, and in no particular order. This happens quite sporadically. It can take a couple of months between these jumps or happen once a week. It does happen sometimes after a power outage, but not always. It happens when I start the computer up in the morning, there they all will be, rearranged. Is there anything I can do to prevent them leaving the order and placement I wish to have them in?


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Re: Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put

by Tufenuf - 6/28/08 9:59 AM

In Reply to: Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put by Longblades

Longblades, Go to the link below and download "Icon Restore". It's a neat little program.

http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

Tufenuf


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(NT) Thanks. Have Done. Now It's Wait and See n/t

by Longblades - 6/29/08 1:04 PM

In Reply to: Re: Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put by Tufenuf


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Be aware that periodically ...

by Edward ODaniel - 6/29/08 3:36 PM

In Reply to: (NT) Thanks. Have Done. Now It's Wait and See n/t by Longblades

the icons may still "rearrange" themselves for various reasons.

That is why the utility has both the "save ... layout" (use every time you make a change to the desktop that you want saved) and the "Restore ... layout" options.

A slightly better option (better being relative) is WinTidy which allows saving different named layouts for different situations and even resolutions.


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Icon Restore was Terrible

by Longblades - 8/7/08 11:29 AM

In Reply to: Be aware that periodically ... by Edward ODaniel

I did try it but now my icons move every time I restart the computer. Yes, I can restore them, but now I have to restore them every time I start up. This is worse than before. I have just uninstalled icon restore, a feat that requires the download of a separate utility, why is that? Now I will try the second option suggested. P.S. I was at one time using a room planning program that required a change of resolution but have not done so for months.


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inspiron 910 mini scattering icons

by bobscomputers - 10/18/08 9:01 AM

In Reply to: Icon Restore was Terrible by Longblades

SEEMS NOTHING WORKED TO SOLVE MY PROBLEM, THEN I LOOKED INTO THE VIDEO DRIVERS. THE NEW DRIVERS FOR THE SMALL SCREEN ARE NOT NATIVE DRIVERS,
WHEN SET IN 800X600 THE ICOND STOP SCATTERING THERE ARE ONLY 2 SETTINGD 1 NATIVE , 1 ODD BALL SO SETTING IT AT 800X 600 SOLVED THE PROBLEM


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Resolution changes, even color count changes.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 10/18/08 9:12 AM

In Reply to: Icon Restore was Terrible by Longblades

Results in icons finding new screen positions. Heck even tapping F5 can cause icons to move.

-> You might be asking "Why?"

Sadly the reasons are far too many and there is little hope I could list them all.
Bob


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There is ONE solution

by DerfX - 2/15/09 7:32 AM

In Reply to: Be aware that periodically ... by Edward ODaniel

Buy a quality UPS

Nothing ever moves or changes one bit on my machine unless I move it.


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Try to set a proper resolution

by tom11723 - 2/15/09 7:21 AM

In Reply to: Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put by Longblades

I have similar problem and resolved. My observation:

I have accidentally set the screen resoltuion to 1024x722. Then Windows XP start doing the "auto rearrange the desktop icons" lining up icons from top left corners each time I reboot.

After I fixed the resolution to 1024x768, the icons stay in their position without further problem on reboot.

I think it is because Windows found that the user defined resolution does not match the driver allow resoltion and try to remap cause the reset operation. May be the display driver only allow some discreate etting say 640x480, 800x640, 1024x768. Any setting outside these setting could cause windows xp to doing something to resolve the difference - hence rearrange the icons.


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desktop icons won't stay put

by omegadirective3 - 10/26/09 6:54 PM

In Reply to: Desk top Icons Won't Stay Put by Longblades

what you need to do is right click the desktop, and the first selection is "arrange icons by, and deselect auto arrange and auto grid and that will solve your problem.


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