Enable desktop auto-arrange via registry or GrpPol

[bkg]

After imaging many, many Win 7 systems, we discovered that the Desktop | View | "Auto Arrange" option and "Align to grid" option were off. We want them on (because the computers are in public spaces).

Is there a set of registry settings or group policy settings that we can use to turn those options on?

I have found that a registry setting ([HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop] "FFlags"=dword:00200220 ) is related to those options, but just changing that key (to "FFlags"=dword:00200225 ) does not do anything. Refreshing the RegEdit screen just changes the value back to its previous value.

Any ideas? I really don't want to have to go to each system and change this manually.

bkg

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Seven Forums bkg. I found the post you got your info from, but it was for XP, so looks like it has changed. Have a look here, see if it helps:

Custom icon position in Windows 7 Professional stored in roaming Desktop folder (Windows 2003 Standard with a domain)? Icons keep on auto-arranging on the left side after restart even Auto Arrange is not selected.

A Guy

 

[bkg]

Thanks for the pointer. Life is interfering with tech right now. I'll try it later in the week.

bkg

 

[bkg]

Nothing in that article led me to a solution. I'm still looking for a solution.

 

[FliGi7]

Download regshot, take a registry shot without auto arrange and align to grid set, then set them, then take another shot and compare the differences. This should tell you what changed in the registry, along with various other changes that happen in the registry constantly in Windows, mind you. So, you'll have to weed those out.

 

[Glyn Roberts]

After imaging many, many Win 7 systems, we discovered that the Desktop | View | "Auto Arrange" option and "Align to grid" option were off. We want them on (because the computers are in public spaces).

Is there a set of registry settings or group policy settings that we can use to turn those options on?

I have found that a registry setting ([HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop] "FFlags"=dword:00200220 ) is related to those options, but just changing that key (to "FFlags"=dword:00200225 ) does not do anything. Refreshing the RegEdit screen just changes the value back to its previous value.

Any ideas? I really don't want to have to go to each system and change this manually.

bkg

Once you change the registry setting you have to restart windows explorer befoire it takes effect.
You can log off and log back on or restart your PC or use Task Manager to terminate Explorer and the restart it or you can use taskkill to do it.

@taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F & explorer.exe