Thanks, but.... tried that already, more by accident than intent.

Phil

On Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:01:51 -0600, philo <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On 03/10/2012 01:02 PM, Phil wrote:
>> Thanks, but I already checked and it isn't on. The only thing I have
>> on is, "show desktop icons"
>>
>
>
>
>Some times you need to "toggle" the settings
>
>In other words... opt for auto arrange
>
>then save
>
>
>next turn off auto arrange
>> Phil
>>
>> On Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:49:01 -0600, philo<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> On 03/10/2012 11:08 AM, Phil wrote:
>>>> Every time I open my user, the desk top rearranges with everything
>>>> grouped on the left side of the screen. I move icons where I want
>>>> them, but next time, it is rearranged.
>>>>
>>>> Also, there are items that show up when I look at the desktop in
>>>> Windows Explorer, but are not visible on the screen. If I try to
>>>> duplicate the shortcuts onto the screen, it tellls me they are already
>>>> there. How do I restore these icons to visibility?
>>>>
>>>> TIA
>>>>
>>>> Phil
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> First thing I'd do is turn off "auto-arrange"
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d....mspx?mfr=true

>Does the screen "flash" when you made whatever changes trying to keep
>the same resolution? If so, just because it was one screen resolution
>before and the same after doesn't mean there wasn't an intervening
>change in resolution (i.e., one resolution, change to another, change
>to the original resolution but that means screen resolution did change
>which means repositioning of the desktop icons).
>
I understand why the icons repositions. I just don't know why I can't
keep them where I put them once I reset the screen resolution.

>You're obviously doing something that forces the desktop icons to get
>moved so they remain within the visible screen screen size for the
>desktop.
>
Actually, some of them are "on the desktop" but not visible.

>> TRhe items that show in Windows Explorer are shortcut itams for
>> programs that should show on the screen, but don't. Somehow, they are
>> "there" because if I try to put the shortcut back, it asks me if I
>> want to over-write and existing icon shortcut. (For photoshop, for
>> example)
>
>What is the folder where you think are the shortcuts that you believe
>should be on the desktop?

Desktop!
>
>> They are not hidden. Also, in some case, if I try to make a new
>> shortcut and put it on the desk top, it won't , telling me that the
>> source and destination are the same, which is (sort of) true!
>
>Have you tried rebooting into Windows' safe mode and recheck?

No, I haven't. After trying to allign to grid, and seeing if it works,
this is a possibility.

Phil

I will try this before shutting off tonight, thanks.

Phil

On Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:32:00 -0500, "Peter Foldes" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Did you select ***Align to Grid*** Right click on Desktop\Arrange Icons By\Align to
>Grid

>Using Windows Explorer, browse to the desktop folder you are using (there is
>one for "All Users" and for each individual user) and move all the icons to
>a new temporary folder. The desktop (screen) should now be empty. Close
>Win Explorer and drag the icon from the temp folder to the desktop (screen).

Interesting band aid. It is on the list to try!

Phil

>Phil... there are so many other avenues to use besides desktop icons. As
>there are other things like Rocketdock (free), Aston Shell (commercial),
>etc. that handles this stuff so much better. Plus you can see the
>wallpaper without any icons littering all over it. I know it is sort of
>a big step for most people. But once you get passed it you never want to
>go back. And you never have to worry about icons moving around your
>desktop ever again. And when you are ready, we'll talk. ;-)

I'll look into Rocketdock. Sounds interesting!

Thanks to everyone who has contributed!

Phil

Phil wrote:

>> Does the screen "flash" when you made whatever changes trying to keep
>> the same resolution? If so, just because it was one screen
>> resolution before and the same after doesn't mean there wasn't an
>> intervening change in resolution (i.e., one resolution, change to
>> another, change to the original resolution but that means screen
>> resolution did change which means repositioning of the desktop
>> icons).
>>
> I understand why the icons repositions. I just don't know why I can't
> keep them where I put them once I reset the screen resolution.

Because icon positions are not recorded by the screen resolution.
There isn't a grid or table of positions based on screen resolution.
The icons are positioned based on spacing and gridding.

>> What is the folder where you think are the shortcuts that you believe
>> should be on the desktop?
>
> Desktop!

That's not a folder. That's a description of a workspace (which, in
this case, used explorer.exe as the desktop manager). What is the
*folder*, including the full path to it, where you say are the hidden
shortcuts (.lnk files)? For example, you might be looking at the
folder for the desktop but for a different account.

"Desktop" is not necessarily a folder. "C:\Windows" and "C:\Program
Files" are folders (aka directories). When you say "Desktop" and if
you mean to indicate that is the folder's name then what is the full
path to that folder?

Phil wrote:

>>Phil... there are so many other avenues to use besides desktop icons. As
>>there are other things like Rocketdock (free), Aston Shell (commercial),
>>etc. that handles this stuff so much better. Plus you can see the
>>wallpaper without any icons littering all over it. I know it is sort of
>>a big step for most people. But once you get passed it you never want to
>>go back. And you never have to worry about icons moving around your
>>desktop ever again. And when you are ready, we'll talk. ;-)
>
> I'll look into Rocketdock. Sounds interesting!

RocketDock is an app launcher. There are lots of those. This one has a
pretty blended interface with animation of the shortcut icons as you
hover over them. It won't do anything to lock the desktop icons in
place. It is a *replacement* for the desktop icons and Start menu.
Think of it like a toolbar that you can add to the Windows taskbar (and
then choose to drag out of the taskbar to put somewhere else on the
screen).

Stardock's Fences (also free) will manage your desktop icons and keep
them in the same positions when you switch screen resolutions and then
switch back.

If you keep your desktop icons within the screen realestate for the
lowest screen resolution then the icons won't be moving around. They're
in the screen space for, say, 640x480, while you have the screen
resolution at 1600, so moving to the lower resolution and back will end
up with the icons being in the same spot in both resolutions. Of
course, that means you lose using the bottom and right side of your
desktop to place the icons.

In news:jjhgvd$7je$(E-Mail Removed),
VanguardLH wrote:
> Phil wrote:
>
>>> Phil... there are so many other avenues to use besides desktop
>>> icons. As there are other things like Rocketdock (free), Aston
>>> Shell (commercial), etc. that handles this stuff so much better.
>>> Plus you can see the wallpaper without any icons littering all over
>>> it. I know it is sort of a big step for most people. But once you
>>> get passed it you never want to go back. And you never have to
>>> worry about icons moving around your desktop ever again. And when
>>> you are ready, we'll talk. ;-)
>>
>> I'll look into Rocketdock. Sounds interesting!
>
> RocketDock is an app launcher.

Of course, so are desktop icons.

> There are lots of those. This one has a pretty blended interface with
> animation of the shortcut icons as you hover over them. It won't do
> anything to lock the desktop icons in place. It is a *replacement* for
> the desktop icons and Start menu. Think of it like a toolbar that you
> can add to the Windows taskbar (and then choose to drag out of the
> taskbar to put somewhere else on the screen).

Of course these desktop tools doesn't do anything for locking desktop
icons. That is because they replace the desktop icons with a far better
solution.

> Stardock's Fences (also free) will manage your desktop icons and keep
> them in the same positions when you switch screen resolutions and then
> switch back.
>
> If you keep your desktop icons within the screen realestate for the
> lowest screen resolution then the icons won't be moving around.
> They're in the screen space for, say, 640x480, while you have the
> screen resolution at 1600, so moving to the lower resolution and back
> will end up with the icons being in the same spot in both
> resolutions. Of course, that means you lose using the bottom and
> right side of your desktop to place the icons.

That is what I am saying, why bother with desktop icons at all? Use a
far better solution and get rid of them. My personal preference is Aston
Shell (free trial). As it has the Launch Bar (like RocketDock, but also
adds groups too. Also side Toolbars, widgets (like Windows 7 gadgets),
and many other useful things.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - OE-QuoteFix v1.19.2
Centrino Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz - 2GB - Windows XP SP3

Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
boot up my user.

All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.

Sigh..... Phil

In news(E-Mail Removed),
Phil wrote:
> Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
> moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
> I had restored them yesterday.
>
> Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
> would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
> changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
> boot up my user.
>
> All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
> closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.
>
> Sigh..... Phil

I know Phil. That is why I turn off (hide and ignore) my desktop icons
and use something else. As there is no way to fix this problem with the
desktop icons.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - OE-QuoteFix v1.19.2
Centrino Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz - 2GB - Windows XP SP3