Solved stop icons from moving after bootup ?

I have Vista Home Premium. I recently bought and added an emerson HDTV/monitor to my computer.

My Acer H233H flat panel is hooked up to the DVI-D video port, and the Emerson is connected to the HDMI connector. I spread the desktop across both.

Until I added the Emerson, the desktop icons stayed where I placed them.

After the Emerson, the icons moved all to the left side of the flat panel in one large rectangular block. They aren't on top of each other, but spread apart correctly.

Today when I turned on the computer, and used the remote to turn on the Emerson, the block of icons moved to the center of the flat panel screen.

Is there anyway, cheaply or free, I can put the icons where I want them, and have them stay put ?

There was a program years ago that would do this for Win98 and I think WinXP, but I haven't heard of one that does the same for Vista.


Thanks !

edit: and if I turn off the emerson, the icons I placed there move back. But that part is likely normal.

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/266693-desktop-icons-move.html

This will work, but be warned. Registry changes can cause problems. Make a system restore point first, backup the registry and have someone competent in that area help
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/save-and-restore-desktop-icon-layout-in-windows-vista/

This is my favorite.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5935894_stop-vista-rearranging-desktop.html

I'll try the WinTidy solution on saturday.

Thanks !

I think that wintidy will work for you. Good luck

The nistall works, but doesn't seem to be working. WinTidy doesn't run, no screen, etc. shows up. So I cannot save a file with the locations in it.

I tried installing in both c:\Program Files\wintidy and C:\Wintidy\

No go.

Also ran as administrator, no screen, etc. shows up.

I'll not going to try the registry thing.

I gave you reputation 'cause you looked and found something to help me with.

Yes, I received the rep and I thank you.

What causes the icons to move is usually a change in resolution.
Set the computer to the recommended resolution, then see if the problem continues.
If it does go to device manager
and look for yellow markers by the graphics card.
If none are there, make sure that your graphics driver is up to date
Make sure that you have all the up to date SPs for Vista.

Run a full scan anti virus after update
Download and run malwarebytes full scan after update.

Try in clean boot and see if the problem continues
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

If clean boot does not help see if it happens in safe mode.

This is recommended software by the Seven Forum, lets see if this helps
Stardock.com - Your Edge In Software

I think now that its a resolution problem as stated above.

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

I found that, and it does work for me.

LOL That was the first thing that I gave you.

richc46 said:

Yes, I received the rep and I thank you.

What causes the icons to move is usually a change in resolution.
Set the computer to the recommended resolution, then see if the problem continues.
If it does go to device manager
and look for yellow markers by the graphics card.
If none are there, make sure that your graphics driver is up to date
Make sure that you have all the up to date SPs for Vista.

Run a full scan anti virus after update
Download and run malwarebytes full scan after update.

Try in clean boot and see if the problem continues
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

If clean boot does not help see if it happens in safe mode.

Click to expand...

Everything is up to date as I was having video problems with Everquest last year. Turns out it was their settings, not mine.


When I ran WinTidy, I didn't think to right click on the Computer icon on my desktop.

richc46 said:

LOL That was the first thing that I gave you.

Click to expand...

I must be more tired than I realized.

Listen Jim, took time but we both win. I feel appreciated that I could help and you have your desktop the way you wanted it.

Yeah, its great. I can put the items I don't use often on my hdtv desktop.

I recently added DAZ 3D Studio and the paid version of Bryce 7 to my computer. The two screens will let me put the tutorials on my tv and the program screen on the monitor. I'm not an artist... so learning how to use the programs well is likely to take some time... lots of tmie.

Whoosh.

I just noticed the 'Thread Starter' to the left there. Thanks !

Sounds like a lot of learning but with a big payoff, good luck.
I will mark this thread as closed.