Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Desktop Icons Staying where they are put

56 views
Skip to first unread message

lightbulb02

unread,
Dec 18, 2006, 3:46:00 AM12/18/06
to
I have been having a problem with keeping my desktop Icons where I put them.
They are fine until I reboot-then they go back to the way they were before I
moved them. I am sure other people have had this problem also. I am running
windows XP Pro. I was reading about a program called WinTidy 2.0, so I
downloaded and installed it. I also read that someone had a problem with this
program putting the icons where he wanted them to be upon rebooting after he
had moved them. He goes on to say that he discovered that if he unchecked the
checkmark next to "align to grid" in the "arrange icons by" box that you get
when you right click on the desktop, that that took care of the problem and
Wintidy would then place his icons in the places that he wanted them to be
in. I also did this and the problem I am having is that everytime I reboot,
the check mark beside align to grid is again checked and agin, until I
uncheck it, my icons fail to go where I want them to. Anyone have any ideas??
Thanks, appreciate the help.

Wesley Vogel

unread,
Dec 18, 2006, 2:41:10 PM12/18/06
to
If Lock Web Items on Desktop is checked...
Items can be moved, but they are moved back after reboot.

If Auto Arrange is checked...
The icons are arranged in columns along the left side of your screen.

Right click Desktop | Arrange Icons By |
UNCheck: Auto Arrange
UNCheck: Lock Web Items on Desktop

Auto Arrange
[[Arrange the icons in columns along the left side of your screen.]]

Lock Web Items on Desktop
[[Specifies whether Web content windows or items that *you* have placed on
your desktop are locked in place and can’t be moved. Select the check box to
lock Web content in place. Clear the check box if you want to be able to
move Web content.]]

> the problem I am having is that everytime I reboot, the check mark beside
> align to grid is again checked and agin, until I uncheck it, my icons

If your settings are getting changed after rebooting...

Save Settings on Exit

Automated edit here...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Read the instructions at the top.
Scroll down to...
54. Right hand side
Save Settings on Exit - Don't Save Settings
Click on...
Save Settings on Exit

savesettings.reg is the file that you want.
-----

Or set NoSaveSettings to 0 here...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer

NoSaveSettings Description
[[Prevents users from saving certain changes to the desktop. Users can
change the desktop, but some changes, such as the positions of open windows
or the size and position of the taskbar, are not saved when users log off.
Shortcuts placed on the desktop are always saved.]]

Also check this key for NoSaveSettings
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Policies\Explorer

If NoSaveSettings does not exist, it is the same as if it were set 0, the
policy is disabled or not configured. Changes to the desktop are saved.

If NoSaveSettings is set 1, the policy is enabled. Some changes to the
desktop are not saved.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:E4336271-9388-427C...@microsoft.com,
lightbulb02 <light...@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:

lightbulb02

unread,
Dec 18, 2006, 3:19:00 PM12/18/06
to
Thank you for the info Wesley, certainly appreciate the post. I am off to try
your suggestions.......again thanks

Wesley Vogel

unread,
Dec 20, 2006, 2:59:59 PM12/20/06
to
Have fun.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:7D145BD0-2223-44F3...@microsoft.com,


lightbulb02 <light...@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:

> Thank you for the info Wesley, certainly appreciate the post. I am off to
> try your suggestions.......again thanks
>
> "Wesley Vogel" wrote:
>
>> If Lock Web Items on Desktop is checked...
>> Items can be moved, but they are moved back after reboot.
>>
>> If Auto Arrange is checked...
>> The icons are arranged in columns along the left side of your screen.
>>
>> Right click Desktop | Arrange Icons By |
>> UNCheck: Auto Arrange
>> UNCheck: Lock Web Items on Desktop
>>
>> Auto Arrange
>> [[Arrange the icons in columns along the left side of your screen.]]
>>
>> Lock Web Items on Desktop
>> [[Specifies whether Web content windows or items that *you* have placed

>> on your desktop are locked in place and can’t be moved. Select the

lightbulb02

unread,
Dec 21, 2006, 6:15:01 AM12/21/06
to

Hi Wesley,

I have done all the things you mentioned, the only box that is checked when
I right click my desktop and open the "arrange icons by" menu is the "show
desktop icons" box. I checked both registry keys you suggested, one did not
have the "NoSaveSettings" the other had it and it was set to "0". I also went
to the website where the automated edit is at and went to #54 and ran the
"Save settings on exit" choice. Immediately after doing that I rebooted. Same
thing happened....
my "align to grid" had a check mark in front of it again and again my
desktop icons were in disarray. I unchecked the align to grid box - ran my
wintidy and restored the icons. So, basically i owuld say that none of the
suggestions were effective. Any other possibilities? Thanks, appreciate your
help.

Wesley Vogel

unread,
Dec 21, 2006, 2:02:48 PM12/21/06
to
Desktop Layout is saved here...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

See jrzycrim's post about
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop
FFlags and Sort
here...
http://msfn.org/board/index.php?act=ST&f=70&t=22555

Auto Arrange off, Align to Grid off:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop]
"FFlags"=dword:00000220

Mine is Auto Arrange off - align to Grid On:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop]
"FFlags"=dword:00000224

I found one post where a poster had your problem. They had a corrupted
video driver. They did not explain anything more except to say that they
fixed the problem with a new driver.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1A51267E-5323-4D36...@microsoft.com,

>>>> on your desktop are locked in place and can’t be moved. Select

lightbulb02

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 8:07:00 PM12/22/06
to
Hi again Wesley,

I am a bit embarrassed to say, but I have found the reason why I have been
having all the problems with my icons and why wintidy did not seem to work
for me. I wanted to let you know in case you should run across someone else
having the same problem.

I have a program on my computer called "anti-peeper" (www.ahusoft.com)
This program is used in a way that might prevent someone from walking up to
you and seeing what you have on your computer. You press 2 keys and it will
swith you to a completely different desktop. I had no idea that this might
create a problem, but evidently, when you are running this progam (even if it
is not active, but loaded and ready to use when you push the 2 keys to switch
desktops) the "align to grid" setting on the alternate desktop must be
unchecked also. I unchecked "align to grid and when I rebooted, icons popped
right into the spaces they were supposed to. I want to thank you for your
time, effort and information in helping me resolve this issue. thank you
again.

Wesley Vogel

unread,
Dec 22, 2006, 9:27:45 PM12/22/06
to
LOL I never would've come up with that in a million years. LOL

Thank you for the update!

<quote>
Works invisibly in the background
<quote>
http://www.ahusoft.com/antipeeperkey.htm

It sure does.

Keep having fun.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:349617D9-D4D0-4BBC...@microsoft.com,

>>>>>> on your desktop are locked in place and can’t be

0 new messages