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.

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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
    2015-12-08T13:54:39+00:00

    BTW... changing the monitor arrangement should not trash this arrangement... which is the ultimate issue. Having the icons disappear completely from the screen when I change the monitor distribution... REALLY!?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-22T02:39:25+00:00

    kb2396571 - "Icons are changed unexpectedly in Windows" worked for me, even though it appears to be describing a different problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-28T03:30:51+00:00

    With the help of some answers in this topic, and some playing about I've cracked it.

    It was really annoying me.

    No icons have moved in over a week.

    1. Arrange them as you like.
    2. Un-check 'snap to grid' (right click on desktop).
    3. Move just one of your icons very slightly out of place.

    Windows will then remember them. This is better than un-checking 'snap to grid', then trying to manually place them tidily.

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