Windows xp rearranges desktop icons

Does this sound familiar? If Windows keeps moving the desktop icons, you may find our software Icon Shepherd of use: it memorizes the positions of the icons and keeps track of them when they are moved around, creating snapshots of the icon positions after each change. When Windows messes up your icons, you can use Icon Shepherd to restore the previously saved layouts, and return the icons to their proper places with one click.

Download Icon Shepherd now or read more about it. Icon Shepherd is free for the private, home use on one computer. However, before starting to use Icon Shepherd, you may want to check a few things first.

If Windows does not let you rearrange the icons as you want, then most probably the Auto-arrange icons option is turned on. To see or change this option, right-click on an empty space of your desktop, and move the mouse pointer to highlight the View item on the shortcut menu.

This should open another menu with several desktop customization options:. If the Auto-arrange icons option is checked, uncheck it and see if that makes a difference.

Chances are, you should now be able to move the icons to their appropriate positions on the desktop and Windows should not get in the way. Encrypt and password-protect files with Encryptability encryption software for Windows 11,10,8.

If this worked, you may want to experiment with other options on the same shortcut menu. For example, did you know you could use the Show desktop icons to quickly hide or show all of the desktop icons at once? Try it and see how it works.

Maybe it can give you an idea for a little April Fools joke If unchecking the Auto-arrange icons option didn't work and the icons keep moving, it could be due to several other possibilities:. Some programs such as computer games in particular change the screen resolution when you run them. When it happens, Windows automatically re-arranges the desktop icons to fit the new screen size. When you exit the game, the screen resolution may change back, but the icons have already been re-arranged.

Sound familiar? If you've noticed that the icons change their positions after you run a particular program, this might be the case. This is all available in Help and Support. Name [[Arrange icons in alphabetical order by the icon name. If the icon is a shortcut to a program, the size refers to the size of the shortcut file.

For example, if you have shortcuts to several PowerPoint presentations on your desktop, these will be arranged next to each other.

Align to Grid Snap icons into place as designated by an invisible grid on your screen. The grid keeps the icons aligned with each other.

When this command is checked, desktop icons are displayed on your desktop. You can retrieve icons you have removed by opening the Unused Desktop Shortcuts folder on your desktop. That's the thing, AutoArrange has always been UNchecked.

But it's still doing it. Ed, this has been an ongoing "problem. Resetting the icons means automatically aligning them to the left. Or from a similar error or a change in display resolution during operations. On a good running system, the icons will stay put I've never used any of these programs but see them recommended often in these newsgroups.

I see I'll ask my IT department I haven't yet, thining I could figure this one out on here ; perhaps they might be able to find out what it is. Mousemonkey Titan. All I know is neither the My Computer nor the Recycle Bin icons produce the added items in the right-click menu.

Why bother? I've tried those "how to" b4 and yes sometimes it works. Allthough most of the time not. Unfortunately, this doesn't work on my PC for some reason. I used to use the layout. Whats discouraging is that this happens with games some times, and MS doesnt seem to have an easy way to fix the icons if it does happen. Worked just fine. Followed instructions exactly. It did take about 30 seconds after I added the registry key before I was able to save the desktop. The save option was there right clicking the Recycle bin, but no message box to confirm my save, then 30 seconds later it started to work.

Anyhow, I did a test by moving icons around and adding icons. Layout put the original Icons back where they were and left the new ones. So you can easily move them where you want.

A big thank you for this tip and I don't think it will corrupt anything. By the way I think maybe Windows Icon settings are causing others trouble. You might try checking this if you are having trouble. Hope this helps. Good luck to all. It should be that simple! Changing screen resolution and back and accordingly hoping your icons will restore in the same position could perhaps work for a few icons.

I repeat there is no program that can restore all your icons all the time, not even the best one so far in accomplishing this job like the one from midiox. Having said that I've encountered IconRestore's from midox limitations. When used in combination with Fences from Stardock.

I did the zip file, put the dot-dll file in system all that …. Had to uninstall: repeasted clips on the restore after repeated saves did no good. It works for me. I have Win XP sp3 on this computer and it works flawlessly and I have a dual monitor setup with icons on both monitors. And how to restore icons positions inside of a desktop subfolder? Ensure you've noted points 3 and 4 before executing the following- 2. Highlight explorer. Click here to cancel reply.

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Subscribe without commenting E-Mail:. Want to have your AD seen here? What Next? Leave a comment Subscribe to Watching The Net. Sooo I'm still stuck with this annoying problem. Any ideas? Jason Unfortunately I have not found anything and by luck remembered this utilty from the NT4 days. Thanks for the post! In this case better use some sw ciao i.

Solutions: 1. Turn off Auto Arrange 2. Update the Display Driver 4. Disallow Themes to Change Desktop Icons 5. Delete IconCache. Uninstall Problematic Programs Solution 1: Turn off Auto Arrange It is possible that you have unwittingly enabled the option Auto arrange icons, in this way leading to icons keep rearranging Windows 10 after refresh.

Solution 2: Fix Desktop Icons Moving Automatically Unfortunately, even if you disabled auto-arrange settings on Windows 10, Desktop icons keep moving and then display incorrectly on the Desktop.

Solution 4: Disallow Themes to Change Desktop Icons Normally, every time you change a new theme for Windows 10, the Desktop icons would also be altered. Solution 5: Delete IconCache. Pinpoint AppData and double click it to open it. Double click Local folder to get into it.

Solution 6: Uninstall Problematic Programs Some applications, especially when you stumble upon Desktop icons keep rearranging when playing games, would automatically change screen resolutions according to the resolution need.

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