Windows 7 desktop icons keep rearranging themselves

Anonymous
2009-10-07T02:55:22+00:00

Every few days, all the icons on my Win7 desktop rearrange themselves. Usually they move to the left edge of the screen. I laboriously move all the icons back to where I like them, and 3-10 days later, they all shift left again. I've found no pattern or event that might cause this -- but it's very annoying!

I've got Win7 build 7100 running on a Dell Latitude D830 laptop. Totally standard hardware and very little non-Microsoft software. In short, it's a pretty clean system.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-10-07T17:38:17+00:00

To supplement Reyas.M.I.'s answer, Under View is the option to select the icon size, Auto arrange icons and Align icons to grid.  The Sort by option includes Name, Size, Item type and Date modified.  I suggest you check both View and Sort by.

Corrine, Microsoft MVP (Consumer Security). This posting is provided "AS IS" without warranty, and confers no rights.

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Anonymous
2009-10-07T04:51:35+00:00

Check whether "Auto Arrange" checked. To check this, right click on desktop and select "Arrange icons by".

I hope this helps.

Thanks and Regards, Reyas...

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-26T16:37:31+00:00

    Why does DESKTOP.INI contain: "[LocalizedFileNames]

    Norton Security Suite.lnk=@C:\PROGRA~2\NORTON~2\Branding\muis.dll,-109"

    ?

    I'm deleting it to see if that fixes anything.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-31T03:29:01+00:00

    Okay, not sure who all will see this, but I have a 'similar' problem (maybe a different cause), but someone above gave a good statement.  I have followed my rearrangement issue long enough to see that it occurs when the resolution changes which coincides when I use a digital projector with extended screen.

    It does some really funky rearrangements.  Most of the time, it will squash everything to the left side of the desktop.  Sometimes it will keep some of it in tact and push other sections (usually the rightmost and/or bottom-most icons) to the left or top of the screen.

    Now don't get me wrong, I have a 'patch' to get them back, but not the long term solution.  It is obvious that when Windows shuts down 'properly', it saves the desktop.  So the patch is to throw caution to the wind and force it to shut down by pressing the startup button until it forces the computer to die.  Since it hasn't had the chance to shut down properly, it doesn't save the rearranged desktop that MacroHard was so kind to shred.  When the computer restarts, the icons should go back to where they were the last time the computer shut down properly.

    At one point in time, I owned Microsoft stock.  I don't any more.   There are so many stuipid little quirks in Windows and Office that should have been corrected 20 years ago (or more), but MacroHard just doesn't care enough.  Sell your stock and pray for 1) the day that the company is managed properly to be more responsive to its customers or 2) someone builds a company that can give Word/Excel a run for the money.   It's obvious to me that MacroHard is very happy to take money, but have no concerns about losing market share because there isn't that big of a playing field to look around.  Too bad.  Great products... then again, the 8 track was in its time.  Oh well..

    I hope this helps.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T20:45:51+00:00

    Hi everybody,

    I think I have the same problem as RoadHazard386 with my Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit (SP 1):

    All file and folder icons on my desktop get rearranged on the left side after rebooting. This happens only and always after I install or uninstall any software; so I am able to reproduce it!

    It also happens after Windows updates, so I guess this is why RoadHazard386 experienced the effect every 2-3 days.

    Furthermore, the "proper Windows desktop icons" like 'Computer' or 'Recycle Bin' are NOT affected. They always stay where they were. This might explain RoadHazard386's icons which stayed in place.

    Please help me resolve this mystery!

    As I said, I am able to reproduce this so what should I be looking for??

    Best regards,

    Linus

    UPDATE: I fixed it with this solution posted by KenMcC1:

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

    Then create Key "Explorer"

    It should look like this  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

    Next add new DWORD value "NoSaveSettings" and set to 0

    UPDATE (again):  Even though I could not reproduce the rearranging by installing and uninstalling a programm, as I could before, the icons rearranged today again (I suppose after the last Windows Update...). :-(

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