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
    2010-06-25T08:36:42+00:00

    That bug is annoying but the solution is unbelievably simple...

    uncheck "Align icons to grid"

    check it when you want to align your icons but always uncheck it everytime after use .

    Please credit me if this solution works for you.

    Clementimuzio

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-16T09:49:48+00:00

    I've been having the same problem on my Windows 7 Pro x64 OS. A select few of the icons reposition themselves at various times. One fix I used was to rename the file/folder name of the icon (e.g., by putting a "-" as first character). That seemed to work...but for a better solution I went with IconRestorer, which can backup and restore desktop icon layouts, and provide 64-bit support.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-11-30T18:07:07+00:00

    I have the same problem.  This doesn't help. 

    I have 3 monitors connected (2 video cards).  Also, the machine is being used by 2 people, each with their own user accounts.

    All of my icons AND gadgets move around under the following conditions:

    1. Switch User is used
    2. One user log's in, works, then logs out.  Second user log's in.
    3. Occassionaly on reboot

    --

    This is more than a bit frustrating.  I'm on Windows 7 x64.  Incidentally, Vista did the same thing but it only happened when switch user was used.

    I don't switch resolutions or even change out the attached monitors.  How can I tell windows to just stop screwing around with things?  As in NEVER change the icon positions. 

    Lively Consulting

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