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
    2010-07-07T11:28:55+00:00

    JackMW - maybe Desktop Restore v1.6.2.029 from Jamie O'Connell (midiox.com) will resolve yr specific problem.

    Dif versions available for dif OS, 32 & 64-bit.

    "When multiple monitors are detected, the information saved includes the relative positions of the monitors as well as the positions of the icons.  This means that each new monitor position requires a new save of the icon layout before restoration is possible.  This is the only reliable way to store icon positions across monitors.  Even a slight adjustment in the monitor settings will likely require a custom save for the layout.  You can find the current monitor coordinate relationships by choosingCustom Save and Restore…"

    I tested his prog on my setup and found it to run w/o any side effects, reboot, sleep, etc. It seems that the only requirement is that you must select View > Align to grid. On his site select and read Description under the XP version.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-05T02:25:57+00:00

    OK.  SecurityGuy 14's  Solution as Implement by me and a couple of others REALLY works in Windows 7 Professional

    In regedit go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

    Then create Key "Explorer"

    Add new DWORD value "NoSaveSettings" and set to 0

    To be safe, I exported HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ and called it noSaveSettingsRestore.reg

    Now Reboot and the problem was solved for us.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-06-24T21:18:00+00:00

    With my XP Pro (32-bit) setup (dualboot), not laptop, I'm using a 20" CRT (primary) plus a 28" LCD (secondary) but using v3.8.5 and also w/o problems. I'm afraid XP issues will no longer receive much attention. W7 issues too many to even start with :-)

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-06-24T20:20:13+00:00

    I beleive you insofar as a static desktop goes. Even with two monitors.  But it does not work consistently at all in the situation with a laptop with multiple docking stations, especially if the secondary monitors attached to the docking stations are not identical.

    In those cases I have found that by turning off the secondary monitor and reseting the video adapter for the destination docking station/monitor it usually will not fail but still not 100% reliable.

    It appears that XP seems to care about the placement of the virtual secondary monitor relative to the virtual primary monitor (laptop) in the settings utility.

    My question is why?  Why isn't there a way to tell XP to leave the icons alone period - at least the ones on the primary monitor portion of the desktop?

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