Vista - Desktop icons ghost attack

I know the title doesn't really describe it. I mean, it is like ghosts moving my icons every time i start up. I re-arrange them just the way i want them. When i start my computer up next time, it is always the icons in the same place that skip, and move up a row. I mean, i have two rows of icons on my desktop. exactly. The two icons on the third row up from the bottom always move to the top of the third row. I dont get it. WTF?

~Lordbob

EDIT: Ok i was wrong. It is the bottom row of icons that move to the top of the third row, and the two rows left move down, but leave a blank spot in the third row.... its so wierd. and it happens after i lock the computer and log back in too.

One way that works kind of simple is to download this zip file at the bottom of this web's information page.

Save and Restore Desktop Icon Layout in Windows Vista :: the How-To Geek

Unzip it
Copy the Layout.dll file into your C:\Windows\System32\ directory
Double-click on the Layout.reg file and add this feature to your registry.

Then you should go to "Computer" from your start menu and right click instead of the usual left click. You will then see the added option of saving your icon layout.

Ok well i want it to not do that everytime i log in, and i want the icons to stay where they are without having to save it everytime i change it, becuase i add and remove stuff often enough, i would be doing that 4-5 times a day......

Any other ideas?

~Lordbob

You probably already know this process but maybe not, so I will explain what I usually do in case you are not aware of the Vista built in operating options for Icons. This probably works on all windows operating systems.

I place my mouse anywhere on the desktop and right click my mouse. Then I left click on the view selection. The first block of options is for Icon size, I prefer medium Icons. The bottom block of options is related to Icon locations. If auto arrange is selected, then no matter where you place your Icons the next time you logon the Icons will automatically align themselves in an organized manner. The second option is align to grid, which will make sure your icons are neatly in rows and columns, if selected.

Myself I leave both options unchecked, this tells my operating system to leave the icons exactly where I put them when logging off or on.

Also for me at times it is better if I change the icons appearance.

To do this I put my mouse over an icon I wish to change and again, right click on the mouse. At the bottom of the long list of possibilities available to me is the option Properties and I left click that option to chose it. From there I have four tabs I can select at the top and I choose the Customize tab at the far right. Once that opens look at the folder icon box near the bottom, there is a button in that box called Change Icon that I then select. This gives me several different icon designs to choose from.

This sometimes helps me locate my icons easier if they have a special look to them that I can remember as well as their location on my desktop.

Those are the only two ways I know of controlling my icons but there are probably more. These options seem to always work for me so I don’t look any further.

My icons always stay where I put them no matter how many times I log on or off because I leave the auto arrange selection unchecked.

Well the icon are fine. And I have Auto-Arrange off, but align to grid is on. I highly doubt that is causing the problem. Hang on I will test it.

.... WTF?
Ok so I did try turning off Align to Grid. Guess what? IT FIXED IT. WTH? I mean seriously? So I know how to fix the problem. I guess I can live with turning it off and on to arrange, but it would be nice to get it fixed. Anyone know why it does what it does and not what its supposed to??

~Lordbob
P.S. I hope that made sense

Actually it doesn't make much since, to me anyway.

It sounds like un-checking both the items has corrected the problem and everything is as it should be. Then you say that it doesn't do what it is suppose to do and your are wondering why.

It sounds like your Vista operating program is acting as it should or the way it was designed but you are not grasping exactly what that is.

It is kind of difficult to understand how something can be corrected and fixed but at the same time be somehow broken and not acting as it should.

Everything with your operating program sounds A-OK to me. Your icons should not be moving around at all now, as long as you keep those options un-checked.

@elixer:
Well I know what Align to Grid is supposed to do. It sets the icons to snap to a grid line with the rest of the icons. Mine worked correctly, except that it would move the icons in the third row from the bottom down, and moved the bottom row to the top of the next column. Its not supposed to do that. So it works, but erroneously.

I know the operating system works correctly.

My point being, I liked having the icons snap to a grid. But to fix that error, I need to uncheck it. I can live with that. What I want is to know WHY, and if I can get it fixed. If I can, then great. If not, I can live.

~Lordbob

P.s. Not trying to attack you or anything.

It still sounds like to me that your Vista operating program is doing what it is designed to do when it snaps the icons into a grid.

When that option is selected the icons travel to a predetermined grid pattern. That grid pattern is larger then most people would like it to be and I believe that is the reason why many people avoid using it, including myself.

It would be nice if Microsoft had the option available to adjust the grid patterns size but it is either their size or no size. If there is not enough room for the bottom row (because it is too low?) or other icons to snap into its predetermined grid locations, the icons must exit their positions. They are then repositioned to a different location where they have enough room to fill the predetermined grid pattern.

From what you are saying, your icons are moving even if the are already exactly on the predetermined grid lines. If that is the case then you do indeed have some kind of an unusual situation going on.

If that is so then you are correct that the best way to avoid having the icons jump around is just to leave the grid option alone.

I know that the icons can fit, because i have done it before. This was a recent change, and I am not sure as to what caused it. I can live with how it is now though.