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
    2012-07-26T09:59:03+00:00

    i have the same problem here, but i think my computer is infected by something because every time i refresh in a folder all the icons inside change their arrangement and view to their default, I've tried some anti-viruses and cleaners but nothing changed..

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-07-14T10:51:48+00:00

    So I permanently switched to a new user account (yes, there are issues with this solution such as your web bookmarks are lost forever).

    WesleyHamilton, you can move/copy your web bookmarks by moving/copying the Favorites File.  Should be located at C:\Users\ (Old Account Name)\Favorites.  Move or copy all files to C:\ (NewAccount Name)\Favorites. 

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-07-13T04:19:27+00:00

    It took me a week to solve a similar (not the same) issue while browsing hundreds of posts. My solution was to create a new user account, and saw that the problem didn't occur on that account. So I permanently switched to a new user account (yes, there are issues with this solution such as your web bookmarks are lost forever).

    If that solution doesn't work for you, try the 20 or so other solutions I found that I've listed here:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/cant-arrange-icons-on-my-desktop/dbfa2431-c7c9-4431-af97-04ca34a0607f

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