How to avoid losing desktop layout?

[Ciarán Ó Duibhín]

For testing, I frequently have to switch between 96DPI and 120DPI fonts,
with restart of the machine.

How can I avoid losing my desktop layout every time I do this?

Thanks,
Ciarán Ó Duibhín.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

For testing, I frequently have to switch between 96DPI and 120DPI fonts,
with restart of the machine.

How can I avoid losing my desktop layout every time I do this?

Thanks,
Ciarán Ó Duibhín.

There used to be software (free, too!) that would save the current desktop
configuration, giving it a name for reference. Then all you needed to do
was to run the program and tell it to load the configuration you wanted.

I have no memory of its name (and it was a long time ago, so it might not
work in Vista).

So, being lazy, I'll let you Google for "save desktop" or whatever

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

For testing, I frequently have to switch between 96DPI and 120DPI fonts,
with restart of the machine.

How can I avoid losing my desktop layout every time I do this?

http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm

ss.

 

[Ciarán Ó Duibhín]

For testing, I frequently have to switch between 96DPI and 120DPI fonts,
with restart of the machine.

How can I avoid losing my desktop layout every time I do this?

Thanks,
Ciarán Ó Duibhín.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Apart from
http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm
I've also identified http://www.desksave.de/index.php?lang=en and
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/iconrestore.html as possibly useful.

But seriously, hasn't Windows been long enough in development for Microsoft
to provide an internal solution?

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Apart from
http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm
I've also identified http://www.desksave.de/index.php?lang=en and
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/iconrestore.html as possibly useful.

But seriously, hasn't Windows been long enough in development for
Microsoft to provide an internal solution?

Well, they did. Years ago, I used to use the LAYOUT.DLL, that was part of
the Windows NT Resource Kit, but since I found Desktop Restore, I have been
using that, as it is much better.

ss.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

http://www.midiox.com/index.htm?http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm

works great

Cool. Maybe I'll get a copy for me too.

Although after what I said above about Googling, that might be considered
to be cheating...or at least getting a free ride.

To tell the truth, even though I have huge numbers of desktop icons, I
never worry too much about reshuffling. I used to, but I'm mellower now.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Apart from
http://www.midiox.com/desktoprestore.htm
I've also identified http://www.desksave.de/index.php?lang=en and
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/iconrestore.html as possibly useful.

But seriously, hasn't Windows been long enough in development for Microsoft
to provide an internal solution?

To add to the comments above: I feel guilty now about taking advantage of
you, Gomer, and Synapse - but not guilty enough to stop me

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Cool. Maybe I'll get a copy for me too.

Although after what I said above about Googling, that might be considered
to be cheating...or at least getting a free ride.

To tell the truth, even though I have huge numbers of desktop icons, I
never worry too much about reshuffling. I used to, but I'm mellower now.

My Desktop can get really messy with work-in-progress files, as well.

There is this program from Stardock which I have been trying out - Fences:

http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/

You might want to try it out. It works well, but I wish you could have the
option for it to not do anything at all with the icons that are not
contained within the fences.

ss.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

My Desktop can get really messy with work-in-progress files, as well.

There is this program from Stardock which I have been trying out - Fences:

http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/

You might want to try it out. It works well, but I wish you could have the
option for it to not do anything at all with the icons that are not
contained within the fences.

ss.

Thanks, looks interesting...

This is about my eighth download today, and it's not even lunch time yet!
Some recovery iso files and some desktop utilities. Man, am I on a roll.

I better back up before doing anything

 

[Ciarán Ó Duibhín]

Well, they did. Years ago, I used to use the LAYOUT.DLL, that was part of
the Windows NT Resource Kit, but since I found Desktop Restore, I have
been using that, as it is much better.

ss.

I went for LAYOUT.DLL in the end, got it at
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/save-and-restore-desktop-icon-layout-in-windows-vista/
It's simple and standard, and I only need to save one layout. They should
have kept it in Windows!

Only thing is, it didn't restore the icons to exactly the right place, near
enough but just needed a little adjustment. I expect I'll get better at it.

Ciarán Ó Duibhín.