Desktop icons not staying put? I found some relief.

motc7 · 10 Jun 2010

I am not spamming I do not think, but in PCWorld this past month, they highlighted a great app for keeping things on the desktop organized. I have been having problems myself with my icons moving around when my computer boots up, etc. Yes, I did try all the fixes out there to no avail. That is until I found Fences.

Fences™ Download - By Stardock - Clean up your desktop clutter

The free version works for me, and for one of the partners in my firm who was also having the same problems and driving me mad, it's working for him too. Just passing this along as i see on there from time to time topics from newbees and vets alike who deal with the frustration of rebellious desktop icons.

rixto003 · 10 Jun 2010

gonna try now... if its gonna make things better ur gonna get a big fat greazy rep point

bcd · 10 Jun 2010

lock icons on desktop
set a new restore point first
To lock your desktop icons into place, first arrange it carefully the way you want it to be, then start>run>type regedit>registy editor will open
click on the + NEXT TO THE FOLLOWING

+ HKEY_CURRENT_USER
+ Software
+ Microsoft
+ Windows
+ CurrentVersion
+ Policies
then click on
Explorer.

Right-click in the right pane and hover over New,
choose DWORD Value
in the high lighted box type NoSaveSettings and press the Enter key.
Right-click on the new NoSaveSettings item and select Modify.
Enter 1 in the Value data box.
exit registry editor
After this, whenever you restart Windows, your settings will return to their current state.

if you dont want this function any more just go back in and delete nosavesettings key

whs · 10 Jun 2010

Fences has been recommended several times. But I still think it is not very practical to keep shortcuts on the desktop (except for very temporary use). I always recommend a dock and Toolbars. That way I can access them without going back to the desktop.

rixto003 · 10 Jun 2010

well it works like a charm, if i get time then ill screw up my registry again

, but this fence thingy is good. create areas, put items in them and make areas transparent so there would be no sign of em (icons are not transparent

) + quick hide system (doubleclick on desktop and everything u havent added to exeption list just magically vanishes).

motc7 · 10 Jun 2010

rixto003 said:

well it works like a charm, if i get time then ill screw up my registry again

, but this fence thingy is good. create areas, put items in them and make areas transparent so there would be no sign of em (icons are not transparent

) + quick hide system (doubleclick on desktop and everything u havent added to exeption list just magically vanishes).

I like it alot. Glad you seem to like it too. and thanks for any rep!

caban · 28 Mar 2011

bcd said:

lock icons on desktop
set a new restore point first

+ HKEY_CURRENT_USER
+ Software
+ Microsoft
+ Windows
+ CurrentVersion
+ Policies
then click on
Explorer.

What would be the "Save Now" setting? Can you help me?

gregrocker · 28 Mar 2011

Rightclick the Desktop, click Refresh. Desktop icons will now hold position except in the case of earthquake with tsunami.

Dana Highmist · 21 Aug 2014

bcd said:

lock icons on desktop
set a new restore point first
To lock your desktop icons into place, first arrange it carefully the way you want it to be, then start>run>type regedit>registy editor will open
click on the + NEXT TO THE FOLLOWING

+ HKEY_CURRENT_USER
+ Software
+ Microsoft
+ Windows
+ CurrentVersion
+ Policies
then click on
Explorer.

Right-click in the right pane and hover over New,
choose DWORD Value
in the high lighted box type NoSaveSettings and press the Enter key.
Right-click on the new NoSaveSettings item and select Modify.
Enter 1 in the Value data box.
exit registry editor
After this, whenever you restart Windows, your settings will return to their current state.

if you dont want this function any more just go back in and delete nosavesettings key

Thank you so much. It's the first thing in months of trying that worked. I know it's not a big problem to have on a computer, but dang it is so annoying. So Thanks

rcfs · 14 Nov 2015

I followed your excellent instructions to the letter, but there already was a NoSaveSettings and it wouldn't let me create another one. I modified the existing NoSaveSettings by typing 1 where the curser was by default in front of the 0 000 etc., but the desktop icons do not stay where I put them after restarting or refreshing. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! P.S. Everything worked fine on my current system until I recently took it to the Geeks to have them remove a suspected virus.