How to lock desktop icons in place

[nomail]

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

 

[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

 

[Zaidy036]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Dave-UK]

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]

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.

Even when the machine reboots?

 

[Bill Yanaire]

Even when the machine reboots?

Yes. Maybe you have a virus.

 

[Allen]

Even when the machine reboots?

Yes.

 

[Dave Rudisill]

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.

 

[John Morrison]

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.

 

[Allen]

That appears to have done the job for me. Thanks.
Allen

 

[Dick Mahar]

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.

 

[DBC]

"LouB" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> 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.

Are you kidding me? Yeah... maybe the virus is Windows.

Windows annoying "help" is rearranging icons after different events is well known. And yes, everyone has already tried unchecking auto-arrange.

 

[fuv]

keep desktop icons together

Download 'Fences' from 'Stardock'. it keeps your icons sorted in groups as you would have them. It somewhat changes the look of your desktop with squares containing the groups you make. Little corals to keep the sheep (icons) locked up where you wnat them to be. Your desktop remains visible. and the use of it has not changed.