Icons AutoArrange on Every Boot ...

[TheAceMan1]

Howdy all ...

Yes ... AutoArrange is unchecked! It started a few days agoand hasn't stopped since. If I scramble the icons then reboot or logoff then logon ... they autoarrange on the left side.

The question I would like to know is where does vista store the desktop icon locations? ... I could at least try to trace it with sysinternals tools if I knew (I don't want to bandage it with software).

I have googled and binged myself too death on this. I found a registry fix that didn't work. I instantiated another admin account and got the same results. The rest was alot of talk about two software packages. BTW ... this appears to be a big problem as google produced a great many hits.

Hope someone can shed some light ...

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[DrB0b]

Does it happen in Safe Mode? Have you scanned for any viruses or removed any around the time this started? Do you have a Vista disc on hand? chkdsk /r or sfc /scannow find anything?

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.

 

[TheAceMan1]

DrB0b . . .

Virus Scan came up clean. SFC came up with a few fixes but not the one I need. Hav'nt tried Safe Mode yet (alot of work to do) but agree its the right way to go. Perhaps working up from a clean boot will reveal something.

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll let you know the results of safe mode.

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[TheAceMan1]

To All ...

Sorry to get back so late.

It happens in Safe Mode! and I deleted IconCache.db

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[DrB0b]

Do you have any nVidia or ATI control panel on this machine? Might want to update the driver to make sure it isnt playing with your settings.

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.

 

[TheAceMan1]

DrB0b . . .

Yes ... I have an nVidia control panel. Good suggestion. I'll look into it ... thanks!.

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[kjv1611]

Couple thoughts.

1. If the screen resolution changes, Windows will typically try to rearrange the icons to fit the resolution. So if it changed to a smaller resolution even only temporarily (say when a game or other application that requires specific resolution settings runs), then that could cause them to move to where you didn't really want them. There may be a setting for changing this, I don't recall offhand.

2. There is an option (I think it's in at least XP, Vista, and 7) to Auto Arrange Icons:
--> Right-click on empty spot on desktop, select View (or else you may not need that on Vista, I don't recall) -> select Auto Arrange Icons if you see a checkmark by it. Then you should be able to sort your icons just how you prefer.

Does either of those seem possibly like what your issue is? Sorry - just now saw this.

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

[TheAceMan1]

How are ya kjv1611 . . .

In the first sentence of my post origination:

[blue] Yes ... AutoArrange is unchecked![/blue]

And at login the resolution is already changed.

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[DrB0b]

Did you get a chance to update the drivers?

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.

 

[kjv1611]

oops

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

[TheAceMan1]

DrB0b . . .

I already had the latest drivers when it started. I'm currently using sysinternals "Process Monitor" to try and nail it down.

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[TheAceMan1]

To All ...

I found that hitting F5 (refresh the desktop), causes the auto arrange to occur as well. Also ... right-click the desktop, select refresh, is the same.

At least I don't have to keep logging off and back on during troubleshooting.

See Ya . . .

Be sure to see FAQ219-2884 Worthy Reading!
Also FAQ181-2886 Worthy Reading!

 

[DrB0b]

Might want to peek in the registry:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...ns-auto-arrange-after-refresh?forum=w7itproui

Learning - A never ending quest for knowledge usually attained by being thrown in a situation and told to fix it NOW.

 

[kjv1611]

TheAceMan1,

Could you take a look at your registry settings, as mentioned in the link DrB0b gave, to see if it's actually a registry or group policy issue, and not something normal?

I just tried:
[ol 1]
[li]First, had to select show icons b/c I usually keep those hidden at work.[/li]
[li]Next, I moved an icon way away and out of whack so it'd be obvious if it got "fixed" by a refresh.[/li]
[li]I then right-clicked on the desktop, and selected Refresh, and nothing happened.[/li]
[li]I then also made sure the desktop was the last selected item, and then hit the [F5] button on my keyboard - same deal, nothing happened.[/li]
[/ol]

So, please confirm.

Thanks




"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57