How to lock desktop icons in place

[Allen]

Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
Allen

 

[nan2u]

The only way I have found is to use fences. The one I use is Stardock, and
I love it. It doesn't work quite right on my laptop, but my desktop is
fine. The price (free) is right, so give it a try.
Nan

"Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons. Every
> other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I recall has
> had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to do this in
> Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
> Allen

 

[nomail@hotmail.com]

On Wed, 14 Apr 2010 143:28 -0500, Allen <allent@austin.rr.com>
wrote:

>Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
>do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>Allen

See if you have a "NoSaveSettings" key in the registry - if so
try deleting it.

I use
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/save-and-restore-desktop-icon-layout-in-windows-vista/
which is fine on Win7 - (different versions for 32/64).

Pete

 

[Zaidy036]

In article <nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com>,
allent@austin.rr.com says...
>
> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
> do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
> Allen


I use the free IconRestorer which is available for both 32 and 64 bit.

See http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html

 

[Allen]

Zaidy036 wrote:
> In article <nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com>,
> allent@austin.rr.com says...
>> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
>> do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>> Allen
>
>
> I use the free IconRestorer which is available for both 32 and 64 bit.
>
> See http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html
Thanks to all for your replies. I'm still puzzled as to why it isn't
built in to Win7.
Allen

 

[LouB]

Zaidy036 wrote:
> In article <nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com>,
> allent@austin.rr.com says...
>> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
>> do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>> Allen
>
>
> I use the free IconRestorer which is available for both 32 and 64 bit.
>
> See http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html

My system was doing the same thing and then one day it stopped doing it.
I have no idea what, if anything, I did

 

[Bill Yanaire]

right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons stay
where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.


"Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons. Every
> other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I recall has
> had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to do this in
> Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
> Allen

 

[Dave-UK]

"LouB" <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:4BC730A4.20203@invalid.invalid...
> Zaidy036 wrote:
>> In article <nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com>,
>> allent@austin.rr.com says...
>>> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>>> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>>> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
>>> do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>>> Allen
>>
>>
>> I use the free IconRestorer which is available for both 32 and 64 bit.
>>
>> See http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html
>
> My system was doing the same thing and then one day it stopped doing it.
> I have no idea what, if anything, I did

Mine used to rearrange themselves if I unplugged my monitor until I made them
slightly smaller via Ctrl-Mouse wheel. They don't move now, haven't got a clue why
their size should make a difference.

 

[LouB]

Bill Yanaire wrote:
> right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons
> stay where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.
>
>
> "Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com...
>> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way
>> to do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>> Allen
>
Even when the machine reboots?

 

[Bill Yanaire]

"LouB" <Lou@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:4BC7525C.10605@invalid.invalid...
> Bill Yanaire wrote:
>> right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons
>> stay where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.
>>
>>
>> "Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
>> news:nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>>> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>>> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
>>> do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>>> Allen
>>
> Even when the machine reboots?

Yes. Maybe you have a virus.

 

[Allen]

LouB wrote:
> Bill Yanaire wrote:
>> right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons
>> stay where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.
>>
>>
>> "Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
>> news:nuSdnXkdsf4UhVvWnZ2dnUVZ_gydnZ2d@giganews.com...
>>> Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>>> Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>>> recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way
>>> to do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?
>>> Allen
>>
> Even when the machine reboots?
Yes.

 

[Dave Rudisill]

>"Bill Yanaire" <bill@yanaire.com> wrote:

>right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons stay
>where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.
>

That has always worked for me, at least as far back as Windows
95. It works on both my 32-bit Win 7 machine and my wife's
64-bit laptop.

The only time I have had icons rearrange themselves is when
switching resolution (or monitors). Windows will reliably
rearrange them when you do that.

--
Dave

 

[John Morrison]

On Wed, 14 Apr 2010 143:28 -0500, Allen <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>Win7 is driving me crazy by playing hopscotch with my desktop icons.
>Every other version of Win that I've used (going back to 3.1) as I
>recall has had a way of locking icons in place, but if there is a way to
>do this in Win7 it is hidden quite well. Any info about this?

I think others may have answered your question and my reply only
suggests an alternative, I don't have any desktop icons at all.

Any shortcuts I create on my desktop I drag to the Start button where
I'm further able to drag them to exactly where I want them. Then I
delete the desktop shortcut.

The Recycle Bin was always a PITA until I read this:
<http/www.howtogeek.com/howto/6709/add-the-recycle-bin-to-the-taskbar-in-windows-7/>

So I was able to switch the Recycle Bin from the Desktop to the Task Bar
right next to the Start Button.
--

John

 

[Allen]

Bill Yanaire wrote:
>> right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons
>> stay where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.
>>
That appears to have done the job for me. Thanks.
Allen

 

[Dick Mahar]

"Allen" <allent@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:8uqdnUASceQd6lXWnZ2dnUVZ_rydnZ2d@giganews.com...
> Bill Yanaire wrote:
>>> right click on the desktop, the uncheck "Auto Align Icons". My Icons
>>> stay where I put them on all four Windows 7 machines that I use.
>>>
> That appears to have done the job for me. Thanks.


> Allen

Works for me too. If you prefer other than alphabetical alignment, use
"align icons to grid.