How can I lock desktop icons?

Anonymous
2009-12-08T03:27:27+00:00

I am unable to LOCK the icon items on my desktop. I have clicked right on the desktop and via properties checked lock items, yet they are easily moved and NOT locked. I've tried locking them thru 'Appearances and Themes', yet they will NOT lock. How can I get them to stop moving around and stay put by locking. Any help would be graciously appreciated. And, no I am not changing my resolution which I know moves them.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-12-08T12:17:08+00:00

Hi there,have you tried this?Right click an empty space on your desktop,highlight desktop icons,place a check  on 'lock icons in place' and uncheck'auto arrange,?

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-03-29T18:28:28+00:00

    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.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-03-31T17:02:33+00:00

    In Windows 7, that option does not appear !

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-03-31T17:04:46+00:00

    Try again, when you right click on an empty area on your desktop in Windows 7, this is not an option.

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