save and restore desktop

[Guest]

At my work, almost every week there are server maintenance operations, which
resets the desktop arrengements (nothing deleted but all icons lose their
positions).

How can I save their position and restore it if necessary?
I know there are programs that do that but I can't use them in my work, so I
need instructions to do it manually.

BTW, I need to do it in win. 2000 too.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

search for a program called "my desktop" using google, its by a company
called mountain something or other, its only a small program that you have
you have to pay for but it is cheap, i have been using it for years and its
great, it allows you to save the positions of the desktop icons, then if they
move you just click one button and hey presto they are back where you want
them, if you install new desktop icons then just click the button again and
they are saved, im sure it works on all formats of windows, hope this helps,
pete ;-)

 

[Guest]

As I wrote in the question, I cannot use any program from the internet.
Also, since this is the computer at work, I cannot change to linux or even
other versions of windows.




"pete":

 

[Guest]

sorry, im afraid im lost on this one then, good luck

 

[Unk]

Since you can't run a program to do it for you, the best you can do is create and save an image
of the desktop and restore them manually. Press the "PrtScn" key, run MSPaint, and "paste" the
image then print it out and keep it in a drawer.

You might want to look at this small program...
http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

The settings are stored under this key:

"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\1\Desktop"

but they are only read when a user logs in and only written when a user logs out.... So:

Arrange your desktop as you like, logout, then log back in.

Export the above key to save your layout.

When you need to restore your layout:

1) Start Regedit
2) Start Task Manager
3) Shutdown the explorer shell by selecting Start -> 'Turn Off Computer' -> Ctrl+Alt+Shift+'Cancel'.
Taskbar & Icons should disappear, desktop pic should remain.
4) Alt+Tab to Regedit: File -> Import -> <your saved .reg file>
5) Alt+Tab to Task Manager. File -> New Task -> Explorer