How can I lock desktop icons?

Seems that by now, if not in the first place, someone would have extended the courtesy of simply either clearly displaying the reg file's necessary structure, that or (ahem) attached the test file in order for people to benefit by the effort at helping someone without needing to ask how the file needs to be typed.  As for the supposed pathway to where the reg entry needs to be, on my W7P, there is no such 'Explorer' file as stated at end of the stated pathway.  So either somehow my W7P registry has an 'omitted' 'Explorer' folder, that or more likely the advice about the 'Explorer' folder probably is only for XP?

I did however find a simpler solution for my issue (icons rearranging anytime I close the laptop lid for a moment) and it seems caused or avoided by 'theme change' and/or I'm guessing maybe even issues with shells.

But to fix the issue on my W7P, I did the following...

Right-clicked on the Desktop and chose Personalize

Clicked the Change desktop icons link in the left pane

Deselected "Allow themes to change desktop icons" and clicked Ok

However I also must...

Deselect the desktop view's 'auto-arrange' icons feature.

This seems the only way to stop rearranged desktop icons for my W7P.

The only rub is in now dealing a bit every now and then with the icons being out of alignment with other icons, that and also I think I now lose what might be described as the 'nudge or drop factor', ie; when dragging an icon too close to another, they can now overlap as opposed to their being inadvertently 'dropped' into another icon's folder, that or the two icons tend to get joined and difficult to separate as they both thereafter drag, but at least the peskie critters stay wherever I leave them.

Sad MS seems to have so little foresight and/or motivation to inflict this sort of programming (the lack of it) on what by now should be more suitably (reasonably) adaptable, plus either attaining and/or retaining the rudimentary operational aspects.

I am using Windows 7 Ultimate and what I suggested works. I can even move an icon to a differen spot and when I reboot it is returned to it's original spot. You also need to have windows not save settings on exit.

I am happy that I could help you.

Yes, FSL has nice utilities for free; I do not use Super Finder XT because I already use a professional software named X1 for indexing and searching all the stuff in my PC. It costs around 100 US$ but it's the far best utility for this purpose.

Enjoy nice weather in Cayman Islands, because here in my French mountains area, outside is about -10°C (14°F). But the snow is so good for a ride in back country!