How can I save my desktop layout?

[Dave]

I have several dozen icons on my desktop which are arranged in various
groups.

Sometimes when I recover after my system has crashed the icons on my desktop
are all rearranged and lined up on the lefthand side of the screeen.

Is there a file I can save that stores the positions of the icons so if this
happens again I need only restore the file to recover my desktop
arrangement?

I am using Windows XP SP2.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Right click Desktop | Arrange Icons By | UNCheck: AutoArrange

AutoArrange
[[Arranges the icons in columns along the left side of your screen.]]

Desktop Layout is saved here...

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop

[[Icons - Lock on Desktop
"In Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME/XP you can lock down the position of the
Desktop icons using a couple of files from the MS Windows NT 4.0 Resource
Kit.]]
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_i.htm

[[Microsoft's Layout.dll (free) file, which is included in the Windows NT
Resource Kit, can be installed on Windows 2000 and XP systems. This adds the
Save Desktop Icon Layout and Restore Desktop Icon Layout options to the
pop-up menus associated with system icons like the Recycle Bin and My
Computer. It's a bare-bones solution that lacks the useful frills found in
EzDesk, but it gets the job done.]]
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1593475,00.asp

zipped layout.dll direct download..
http://www.nthelp.com/proggy/layout.zip

[[Make Desktop Icons Stay in Place
1. Download the zip file that comes from the Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit.
Don't worry! It'll work with your Windows XP machine.
2. Copy the files in the .zip file onto the desktop. Then place Layout.dll
in your WINDOWS\System32 directory.
3. After the layout.dll is in the right directory, double click on the
layout.reg file.
4. Right click on the My Computer icon on your desktop. You should see two
new commands: Save Desktop Icon Layout and Restore Desktop Icon Layout.
Use them to save and restore your icon arrangement. ]]
http://www.wxpnews.com/index.cfm?id=52


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[cschiller1]

Dave -

Do a web search for a program called EZ Desk. It will allow you to save
the position of your desktop icons for all of the available screen
resolutions. Free.

HTH,
Craig

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Softwarium: Restore Desktop for Windows:
http://www.softwarium.com/rdwin.html

PCWorld.com - Save My Desktop! v1.2:
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22891,00.asp

Layout.dll review by PC Magazine:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1593475,00.asp
http://www.virtualplastic.net/html/desk_adv.html#save

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I have several dozen icons on my desktop which are arranged in various
groups.

Sometimes when I recover after my system has crashed the icons on my desktop
are all rearranged and lined up on the lefthand side of the screeen.

Is there a file I can save that stores the positions of the icons so if this
happens again I need only restore the file to recover my desktop
arrangement?

I am using Windows XP SP2.

Thanks
Dave

 

[Serfico]

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