Desktop icons moving around by themselves?


  1. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
       #1

    Desktop icons moving around by themselves?


    This has been going on since I received this computer, I just never found it too big of a deal until I recently started getting more icons on my desktop from downloading various programs.

    Basically, I have a desktop that's set up with the background of an office with empty shelves, and I put my icons on the shelves to make it look cool. Due to this, I don't have my icons set to be aligned to any sort of grid, I just move them where I want, making it frustrating to move them back into place. Now, I notice that from time to time some of the icons or folders on my desktop will be out of the place I put them in, and will have moved themselves back to the place they were prior to moving them into the place I want them to be. I'm not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I notice it happens with icons and/or folders that have recently been updated or had something new put in them.

    This isn't too big of a deal, but as always, help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #2

    Many time when updating a program it will add a icon or move them. When you move the icon back does it stay there. If you are using a 3rd party desktop program the answer might be in there.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I mean, it wouldn't be a big deal to move them back once or twice, but I've moved some of these items back to their spots over five times. I'm not quite sure what you mean by a third party desktop program, but I'm pretty sure I don't have one. Even if I did, this has been going on since the day I only had about six or seven icons on my desktop, which was when I hadn't yet gotten this cool background.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 20
    Windows 7
       #4

    It is a bit strange this one. Have you got any program running in the background?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #5

    I have a desktop that's set up with the background of an office
    What program does this for you.
    When things are in place, right click on desktop and select refresh.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm not totally sure if you mean processes in Windows Task Manager, or if you're simply talking about normal programs like a web browser or something, but just in case, I'll list both. If you meant Windows Task Manager (which I'm guessing you probably don't, though it wouldn't hurt to list the number of processes currently running), I currently have 66 processes running, only 28 of which are running on my user and not the system or something. If you meant the normal programs, however, then yes, I normally have at least three programs open. At this very moment I have four programs running; (1) Firefox, (2) mIRC, (3) Notepad, and (4) Microsoft Outlook.

    Edit: Sorry about the late response, I hadn't realized that other post had been posted, as I posted my message at about the same time that one showed up for me. No program allows me to make my desktop like an office, I simply set an office as my background and told Windows to not align any icons to a grid. I refreshed it after putting them in place, and two folders that haven't even been updated or anything lately moved out of place, so I put them back and refreshed again. Nothing moved this time, so I'm hoping that's a good sign.
    Last edited by SirWeegee; 26 Mar 2011 at 18:49.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,578
    Vista 64 bit and 32 bit (SP2)
       #7

    Sometimes a folder (even the Desktop, which after all, is just a folder) needs a little coaxing. I would refresh the Desktop, and then CHECK Auto-arrange and Align to grid. Refresh Desktop again and then UNcheck Auto-arrange and Align to grid. Even a re-boot at this time might help. Oftentimes just the act of changing a command un-corrupts whatever the problem is.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I seem to have fixed it somehow, but as weird as it may sound, I'm not quite sure how I did this. I did all of the things you guys suggested, and saved a screenshot of the way it's supposed to look so that if it ever does it again I'll know where everything goes. It hasn't done it since I restarted yesterday to finish the installation of the Windows 7 Service Pack 1, so that could have also helped.

    Either way, I greatly appreciate all of the help I've received, now I just hope it'll stay this way.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #9

    Glad your happy. Just remember you can come here even if you don't have a problem. Lots of nice things to learn.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,403
    Win 7 Ultimate 32bit
       #10

    Try this Save Icon Layout Positions

    Fences I do not think will work for your case.
    But the Save Icon Layout will.
      My Computer


 

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