On Win 9x/ME, I could "line up" my desktop icons such that
there was a reasonable gap or space between the text below
one icon, and the icon directly below it.

However, with Win XP, when I "align to grid" on my desktop,
the text below one icon is overlaid slightly by the icon
picture below it. Basically, the grid is too tight vertically
for the space needed by an icon and its descriptive text.

I will just add, that I have tried changing from large icons
to small icons, but Win XP also changes the grid size too,
always keeping the spacing just a little too tight.

Is there some option or registry setting that I could change
which would expand the default desktop grid size? Possibly,
to something around 1.25 to 1.5 times the current allowed
vertical spacing?

BTW, I have tried skipping over each grid space, basically
using every other one. That results in way too large of a
gap between icons, and Windows always trying to insert another
icon into the empty, skipped, space.

I find it helps to right click icons with long names and abbreviate same.
Also on Start right click properties and choose small icons under customize.

--
Peter in Toronto, Canada.
Windows XP Homes SP1
Pentium 4 @ 3.00ghz, 160gb HD, 1.00gb DDR.
"Walt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Win 9x/ME, I could "line up" my desktop icons such that
> there was a reasonable gap or space between the text below
> one icon, and the icon directly below it.
>
> However, with Win XP, when I "align to grid" on my desktop,
> the text below one icon is overlaid slightly by the icon
> picture below it. Basically, the grid is too tight vertically
> for the space needed by an icon and its descriptive text.
>
> I will just add, that I have tried changing from large icons
> to small icons, but Win XP also changes the grid size too,
> always keeping the spacing just a little too tight.
>
> Is there some option or registry setting that I could change
> which would expand the default desktop grid size? Possibly,
> to something around 1.25 to 1.5 times the current allowed
> vertical spacing?
>
> BTW, I have tried skipping over each grid space, basically
> using every other one. That results in way too large of a
> gap between icons, and Windows always trying to insert another
> icon into the empty, skipped, space.

Right click on desktop, properties, the appearance tab, open the drop down box for "item". Select icon spacing vertical or horizontal and increase the value for each or for both. That should do it.

While that 'should do it', one must be aware that it will also change
the vertical spacing on ALL windows that display icons ... i.e. Control
Panel.

Perhaps it might be easier all around to just uncheck 'Align to grid'
for the desktop icons and place them exactly where you want them.

Just a thought ... Fred

RJ wrote:
> Right click on desktop, properties, the appearance tab, open the drop
> down box for "item". Select icon spacing vertical or horizontal and
> increase the value for each or for both. That should do it.

My thanks to all who took the time to reply!

I have never seen these icon spacing values before, but they were exactly
what I needed!

The vertical spacing was originally set to 43. So, I up'ed it to 55
and did a [OK] and [Apply]. Windows moved my icons around with greater
vertical spacing between them.

However, 55 looked way too large, plus I was worried about its affect on
other windows, as FredP pointed out. So, I slowly decreased the value back
down from 55.

I ended up all the way back down to 43; the value where I started. However,
now, the icons aren't overlapping as they did originally.

My guess is that something got totally screwed up within Windows, and the
icon spacing Windows was using, wasn't even at the value of 43; as it was
orginally set to be at the time. Changing the value, and returning it
back to 43 seems to have fixed what ever the problem was. My icons are
now nicely spaced just like they were in Win 9x/ME.

Again, thanks!

RJ wrote:
>
> Right click on desktop, properties, the appearance tab, open the drop down box for
> "item". Select icon spacing vertical or horizontal and increase the value for each
> or for both. That should do it.