Desktop icons layout reset on refresh

Tepid · 18 Jul 2009

but is there a way to lock icons where I put them?

No, there is no way to change this behavior.
This is acting as designed

Yes it is annoying and I do not know why this hasn't been implemented into windows yet.

However, I have been searching for a good tool, and there are several if you search google.

This is a tool that I use....
You need to run it as an Admin the first time you install it.

Download it here

The other tool that I will be looking at is call Stardock Fences and it is free (for now).
I have not tested it out yet, but it looks most interesting and promising.

For Gadgets I use App Launcher and free up a lot of desktop icons.

7echno7im · 18 Jul 2009

hmmm... my icons stay exactly where i place them.... every time... thru reboots, log offs, standbys... etc.... Mine never has unless explorer.exe crashes before it can be saved....

was this an upgrade or clean install?

Tepid · 19 Jul 2009

I did a clean install.

This happens in a VM and on my home PC.

But I do think there is a regkey that may fix this issue.
I just need to find it.

*********************

Ok,, I change my mind... it is not happening in the VM. However,
If you right click and change either of the Align settings under View
I mean, setting them checked or unchecked. Either one forces the behavior
It will break it to where hitting F5 throws the icons to the left side of the screen.

So, give a bit of time and I will see what is changing this and see if I can find a fix.

Tepid · 19 Jul 2009

Ok,, after quite a bit of digging, I have not yet found where it is storing that info in the registry.

I did however find that I do not always have the problem of the icons getting thrown to the left when refreshing the desktop. Most of the time they do stay where I place them. I have not been able to nail down a pattern at this time.

However, I am looking at the layout.dll and the Save Icon Layout app that I posted earlier.

It creates a regkey that might be able to be used in a run key at startup to force the icon layout when you login incase it is reset.

This is what all of the apps that I have seen has missing. The ability to force the icons to stay locked in position and not allowed to move on any refresh of the desktop other than being physically dragged by the mouse. I do not see why this is not possible.

All of the apps that I have seen either,,,

Save the icon location in the registry with a binary key
Save to an INI file with XY positions
Save to a dll or other location (possibly internally to the app)

But none of them provide a means to auto-set/reset a desired icon layout
or lock them in place.

I would also be happy with a lock icon to location, and have to unlock it to move it if necessary.

But, in the grand scheme of things, I think Fences is going to be a promising app along side App Launcher Gadget, which as I said, does a very good job of keeping a desktop clean.