Save desktop icons position and restore when needed in windows 7

Apparently it is possible for the value of "Auto arrange icons" be out of step with the displayed value in the "View" options of the list from right-clicking blank desktop space.  If this happens, Windows 7 may persist in auto arranging each time it starts despite the fact that Auto Arrange does not appear to be selected.

A solution that worked for me is to: 

SET the Auto Arrange option;

Do a restart that way;

Then uncheck the Auto Arrange option;

And do another restart. 

This seemed to get the Auto Arrange function behavior back in sync with the displayed value of the option, and stopped Windows 7 from auto arranging on startup.

This problem may have come about through use or mis-use of "DesktopOK" mentioned in other replies.

I really would love to use the tool under http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/save-and-restore-desktop-icon-layout/ as mentioned above, since it is stated that this works also for windows 7.

I have a 64-bit-version of Windows 7 running on my machine, and after installing the layout.dll and adding the registry entries, still nothing happens, the tool is not working.

Am i doing something stupid, or is this tool not working on 64 bit versions, or is there any other reason?

Hi Mironov,

 

Here are the steps that you need to follow in order to save the desktop icons position.

 

To save the desktop icon position and to restore it

a.    Right click on Desktop and click on View

b.    Uncheck “auto-arrange icons”

c.    Uncheck “Align icons to grid”

 

Log off and log on to windows. You’ll see the position of the desktop icons unaltered.

 

To restore it back, just reverse the process by checking those items.

 

Hope this information is helpful and let me know if this worked.

Mouneshwar R – Microsoft Support

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I'm sorry but this is a terrible answer. It does not address the issue of quickly restoring icons to the way you set them especially if you are using multiple screens. Auto-arrange undoes anything that you set and align to grid works to setup your icons but not to restore them to the way you originally had them. 

MS should come out with a better way to save AND restore your icons to where you place them, if, let's say you add or remove a video card or update your video card drivers.

I totally agree - That is just a STUPID answer !!!