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
    2010-01-22T14:35:06+00:00

    I've had this problem for years now.

    Must say I've been using 3 monitors though. Running Windows 7 , 64 bits.

    Even with IconRestorer the results were never consistent.

    I used every Icon saver on the market but your solution above 

    using "-"s is the first time I get a solution what works. Mind you it might be a bit

    early to celebrate but so far it looks good. And IconRestorer is now working properly

    because of the dashes.. Weird but I love it !

    Thanks for this !!! and like the guy says, Icon positioning hasn't been working since Win 3.1 !

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-22T14:54:13+00:00

    I just wanted to add, that the items marked as Answers to this thread do NOT solve the issue. 

    Can we have a checkbox somewhere that says "I'm serious, don't screw with the icon positions no matter how much the programmer thinks it's a good idea?"

    Lively Consulting

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-01-22T19:10:38+00:00

    I now believe it is caused by Windows 7 Library function. If you can get a hold of Yamicsoft's Windows 7 Manager, you can customize your system and remove "Libraries." Seems to do the trick. Then your Explore is back to the way it was in XP. Easier to use in my opinion.

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