XP desktop problem

Phil wrote:

Does the screen "flash" when you made whatever changes trying to keep
the same resolution? If so, just because it was one screen
resolution before and the same after doesn't mean there wasn't an
intervening change in resolution (i.e., one resolution, change to
another, change to the original resolution but that means screen
resolution did change which means repositioning of the desktop
icons).

I understand why the icons repositions. I just don't know why I can't
keep them where I put them once I reset the screen resolution.

Because icon positions are not recorded by the screen resolution.
There isn't a grid or table of positions based on screen resolution.
The icons are positioned based on spacing and gridding.

What is the folder where you think are the shortcuts that you believe
should be on the desktop?

Desktop!

That's not a folder. That's a description of a workspace (which, in
this case, used explorer.exe as the desktop manager). What is the
*folder*, including the full path to it, where you say are the hidden
shortcuts (.lnk files)? For example, you might be looking at the
folder for the desktop but for a different account.

"Desktop" is not necessarily a folder. "C:\Windows" and "C:\Program
Files" are folders (aka directories). When you say "Desktop" and if
you mean to indicate that is the folder's name then what is the full
path to that folder?

Phil wrote:

Phil... there are so many other avenues to use besides desktop icons. As
there are other things like Rocketdock (free), Aston Shell (commercial),
etc. that handles this stuff so much better. Plus you can see the
wallpaper without any icons littering all over it. I know it is sort of
a big step for most people. But once you get passed it you never want to
go back. And you never have to worry about icons moving around your
desktop ever again. And when you are ready, we'll talk. ;-)

I'll look into Rocketdock. Sounds interesting!

RocketDock is an app launcher. There are lots of those. This one has a
pretty blended interface with animation of the shortcut icons as you
hover over them. It won't do anything to lock the desktop icons in
place. It is a *replacement* for the desktop icons and Start menu.
Think of it like a toolbar that you can add to the Windows taskbar (and
then choose to drag out of the taskbar to put somewhere else on the
screen).

Stardock's Fences (also free) will manage your desktop icons and keep
them in the same positions when you switch screen resolutions and then
switch back.

If you keep your desktop icons within the screen realestate for the
lowest screen resolution then the icons won't be moving around. They're
in the screen space for, say, 640x480, while you have the screen
resolution at 1600, so moving to the lower resolution and back will end
up with the icons being in the same spot in both resolutions. Of
course, that means you lose using the bottom and right side of your
desktop to place the icons.

In ,
VanguardLH wrote:
Phil wrote:

Phil... there are so many other avenues to use besides desktop
icons. As there are other things like Rocketdock (free), Aston
Shell (commercial), etc. that handles this stuff so much better.
Plus you can see the wallpaper without any icons littering all over
it. I know it is sort of a big step for most people. But once you
get passed it you never want to go back. And you never have to
worry about icons moving around your desktop ever again. And when
you are ready, we'll talk. ;-)

I'll look into Rocketdock. Sounds interesting!

RocketDock is an app launcher.

Of course, so are desktop icons.

There are lots of those. This one has a pretty blended interface with
animation of the shortcut icons as you hover over them. It won't do
anything to lock the desktop icons in place. It is a *replacement* for
the desktop icons and Start menu. Think of it like a toolbar that you
can add to the Windows taskbar (and then choose to drag out of the
taskbar to put somewhere else on the screen).

Of course these desktop tools doesn't do anything for locking desktop
icons. That is because they replace the desktop icons with a far better
solution.

Stardock's Fences (also free) will manage your desktop icons and keep
them in the same positions when you switch screen resolutions and then
switch back.

If you keep your desktop icons within the screen realestate for the
lowest screen resolution then the icons won't be moving around.
They're in the screen space for, say, 640x480, while you have the
screen resolution at 1600, so moving to the lower resolution and back
will end up with the icons being in the same spot in both
resolutions. Of course, that means you lose using the bottom and
right side of your desktop to place the icons.

That is what I am saying, why bother with desktop icons at all? Use a
far better solution and get rid of them. My personal preference is Aston
Shell (free trial). As it has the Launch Bar (like RocketDock, but also
adds groups too. Also side Toolbars, widgets (like Windows 7 gadgets),
and many other useful things.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - OE-QuoteFix v1.19.2
Centrino Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz - 2GB - Windows XP SP3

Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
boot up my user.

All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.

Sigh..... Phil

In news Phil wrote:
Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
boot up my user.

All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.

Sigh..... Phil

I know Phil. That is why I turn off (hide and ignore) my desktop icons
and use something else. As there is no way to fix this problem with the
desktop icons.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - OE-QuoteFix v1.19.2
Centrino Core Duo T2400 1.83GHz - 2GB - Windows XP SP3

Phil schreef:
Every time I open my user, the desk top rearranges with everything
grouped on the left side of the screen. I move icons where I want
them, but next time, it is rearranged.

Also, there are items that show up when I look at the desktop in
Windows Explorer, but are not visible on the screen. If I try to
duplicate the shortcuts onto the screen, it tellls me they are already
there. How do I restore these icons to visibility?

TIA

Phil


You can try:

Icon Restore
http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

or
Icon desktop Restorer
http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html

Manual methode:Windows XP, Windows 7:
http://mintywhite.com/windows-7/7cus...yout-quicktip/

There are more similar programs, Google 'restore desktop'

Regards,

Zanqeutil

Phil wrote:
Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
boot up my user.

All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.

Sigh..... Phil
You might try Iconoid at http://www.sillysot.com/ it free

On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:01:37 -0500, "BillW50" wrote:

In news Phil wrote:
Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
boot up my user.

All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.

Sigh..... Phil

I know Phil. That is why I turn off (hide and ignore) my desktop icons
and use something else. As there is no way to fix this problem with the
desktop icons.

It might be difficult to find the culprit, but I wouldn't say there's
no way. Some program is causing the screen resolution to change. Find
it, stop it, and the problem is solved. Easier said than done,
perhaps, but it shouldn't be impossible.

On 3/11/2012 4:42 PM, Char Jackson wrote:
On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:01:37 -0500, wrote:

In news Phil wrote:
Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Before trying the alternative launchers, which sound fun, I still
would like to figure out what is screwing up my system. I am not
changing resolutions and the icons still are moved again everytime I
boot up my user.

All align to grid does is.... align to grid, ie, keep an icon at the
closest grid point, but it doesn't stop the realligning.

Sigh..... Phil

I know Phil. That is why I turn off (hide and ignore) my desktop icons
and use something else. As there is no way to fix this problem with the
desktop icons.

It might be difficult to find the culprit, but I wouldn't say there's
no way. Some program is causing the screen resolution to change. Find
it, stop it, and the problem is solved. Easier said than done,
perhaps, but it shouldn't be impossible.

I never ran into a problem of the screen resolution changing from what
you want (as long as it is the native resolution). And I am not sure
about the OP. But mine changes between the internal laptop/netbook vs.
the external monitor.

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo 2GHz - 1.5GB - Windows 7

BillW50 wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

RocketDock is an app launcher.

Of course, so are desktop icons.

Not quite. Launching is via filetype association. See the CLSID
entries in the registry for the filetype association (e.g., .exe). I
suspect even RocketDock relies on those filetype associations to
"launch" the program. It's just presenting a different desktop manager.
Windows Explorer (explore.exe) is the default desktop manager. So with
RocketLauncher, you are adding an desktop manager atop another desktop
manager.

There are lots of those. This one has a pretty blended interface with
animation of the shortcut icons as you hover over them. It won't do
anything to lock the desktop icons in place. It is a *replacement* for
the desktop icons and Start menu. Think of it like a toolbar that you
can add to the Windows taskbar (and then choose to drag out of the
taskbar to put somewhere else on the screen).

Of course these desktop tools doesn't do anything for locking desktop
icons. That is because they replace the desktop icons with a far better
solution.

Stardock's Fences (also free) will manage your desktop icons and keep
them in the same positions when you switch screen resolutions and then
switch back.

If you keep your desktop icons within the screen realestate for the
lowest screen resolution then the icons won't be moving around.
They're in the screen space for, say, 640x480, while you have the
screen resolution at 1600, so moving to the lower resolution and back
will end up with the icons being in the same spot in both
resolutions. Of course, that means you lose using the bottom and
right side of your desktop to place the icons.

That is what I am saying, why bother with desktop icons at all? Use a
far better solution and get rid of them. My personal preference is Aston
Shell (free trial). As it has the Launch Bar (like RocketDock, but also
adds groups too. Also side Toolbars, widgets (like Windows 7 gadgets),
and many other useful things.

RocketDock manages a grouping of shortcuts along with adding pretty
features. Because all of the managed shortcuts are within the window
for RocketDock, yep, you can get rid of the desktop icons. Instead of
using the default desktop manager to provide launch icons, you can used
a windowed app to show launch icons. While the launch icons remains
inside RocketDock's window, what happens if the screen resolution is
made smaller than the size of RocketDock's window? Does RocketDock
reduce the size of its icons so all of them remain visible at the lower
screen resolution? Does it stick in a scrollbar to keep the icons at
the original pixel size but then require the user to scroll around
through a list of icons? Does its window resize to rewrap the icons
trying to keep visible as many as possible?

In a virtual machine (Windows XP Pro SP-3), I installed RocketDock.
After adding more icons so there were 20 total (in the left-hand side of
RocketDock), the icons started going off screen so they were no longer
visible. No scrollbar shows up to let me get at the hidden icons. I
kept adding more shortcuts but RocketDock did not expand to a 2nd row.
I found no config option to change row/column height nor could I drag
the edge of Rocketdock's window to enlarge it. It looks to be a
single-row/column app launcher. If you're trying to cleanup a messy
desktop that has lots if icons, this app launcher won't do since you
won't be able to see a lot of your icons as they are off the screen.
This VM has a screen resolution of 1024x768. To see how well it handles
screen size changes (what the OP asked about), I reduced the screen
resolution to 800x600 (the lowest I could pick in the VM). Even more of
RocketDock disappeared off screen making most of it unusable. This
certainly doesn't appear what the OP wants to handle screen size
changes.

RocketDock is a one-row app launcher. It gets in the way of using your
regular apps. When an app's window overlaps the RocketDock launchbar,
you can't use that portion of the app's window. If the app's window
overlaps RocketDock sitting at the top of the screen, you can't get at
the title bar in the app's window to drag it down. You have to enable
the auto-hide option (disabled by default) to get at a part of an app's
window that would otherwise be obliterated by RocketDock. So you can
get it out of the way but it still won't show you the icons that are
hidden off screen because you added too many to RocketDock.

To me, RocketDock looks like a single fence provided by Fences but
RocketDock is prettier. With just one "fence" (window) for all the
shortcuts, it seems RocketDock would be more like a Favorites manager.
So I can have N icons sitting on the Windows desktop or I have those
same N icons sitting in a window for RocketDock. Doesn't seem like I've
saved any screen realestate unless I use auto-hide (which obviates the
live preview feature for dragging app windows to RocketDock). It
certainly doesn't handle the situation where screen resolution is
reduced as even more icons will be off screen, invisible, and unusable.
You have to use RocketDock as a short-list app launcher.

Phil wrote:

Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Have you tried using msconfig.exe to disable all startup items, position
the desktop icons, and reboot to see if the icons stayed where you put
them?

On 3/11/2012 5:12 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
BillW50 wrote:

VanguardLH wrote:

RocketDock is an app launcher.

Of course, so are desktop icons.

Not quite. Launching is via filetype association. See the CLSID
entries in the registry for the filetype association (e.g., .exe). I
suspect even RocketDock relies on those filetype associations to
"launch" the program. It's just presenting a different desktop manager.
Windows Explorer (explore.exe) is the default desktop manager. So with
RocketLauncher, you are adding an desktop manager atop another desktop
manager.

Desktop icons are nothing more than shortcuts. And with shortcuts, you
can override file type associations. Say you want to open a shortcut to
an exe through notepad, yes you can.

There are lots of those. This one has a pretty blended interface with
animation of the shortcut icons as you hover over them. It won't do
anything to lock the desktop icons in place. It is a *replacement* for
the desktop icons and Start menu. Think of it like a toolbar that you
can add to the Windows taskbar (and then choose to drag out of the
taskbar to put somewhere else on the screen).

Of course these desktop tools doesn't do anything for locking desktop
icons. That is because they replace the desktop icons with a far better
solution.

Stardock's Fences (also free) will manage your desktop icons and keep
them in the same positions when you switch screen resolutions and then
switch back.

If you keep your desktop icons within the screen realestate for the
lowest screen resolution then the icons won't be moving around.
They're in the screen space for, say, 640x480, while you have the
screen resolution at 1600, so moving to the lower resolution and back
will end up with the icons being in the same spot in both
resolutions. Of course, that means you lose using the bottom and
right side of your desktop to place the icons.

That is what I am saying, why bother with desktop icons at all? Use a
far better solution and get rid of them. My personal preference is Aston
Shell (free trial). As it has the Launch Bar (like RocketDock, but also
adds groups too. Also side Toolbars, widgets (like Windows 7 gadgets),
and many other useful things.

RocketDock manages a grouping of shortcuts along with adding pretty
features. Because all of the managed shortcuts are within the window
for RocketDock, yep, you can get rid of the desktop icons. Instead of
using the default desktop manager to provide launch icons, you can used
a windowed app to show launch icons. While the launch icons remains
inside RocketDock's window, what happens if the screen resolution is
made smaller than the size of RocketDock's window? Does RocketDock
reduce the size of its icons so all of them remain visible at the lower
screen resolution? Does it stick in a scrollbar to keep the icons at
the original pixel size but then require the user to scroll around
through a list of icons? Does its window resize to rewrap the icons
trying to keep visible as many as possible?

In a virtual machine (Windows XP Pro SP-3), I installed RocketDock.
After adding more icons so there were 20 total (in the left-hand side of
RocketDock), the icons started going off screen so they were no longer
visible. No scrollbar shows up to let me get at the hidden icons. I
kept adding more shortcuts but RocketDock did not expand to a 2nd row.
I found no config option to change row/column height nor could I drag
the edge of Rocketdock's window to enlarge it. It looks to be a
single-row/column app launcher. If you're trying to cleanup a messy
desktop that has lots if icons, this app launcher won't do since you
won't be able to see a lot of your icons as they are off the screen.
This VM has a screen resolution of 1024x768. To see how well it handles
screen size changes (what the OP asked about), I reduced the screen
resolution to 800x600 (the lowest I could pick in the VM). Even more of
RocketDock disappeared off screen making most of it unusable. This
certainly doesn't appear what the OP wants to handle screen size
changes.

RocketDock is a one-row app launcher. It gets in the way of using your
regular apps. When an app's window overlaps the RocketDock launchbar,
you can't use that portion of the app's window. If the app's window
overlaps RocketDock sitting at the top of the screen, you can't get at
the title bar in the app's window to drag it down. You have to enable
the auto-hide option (disabled by default) to get at a part of an app's
window that would otherwise be obliterated by RocketDock. So you can
get it out of the way but it still won't show you the icons that are
hidden off screen because you added too many to RocketDock.

To me, RocketDock looks like a single fence provided by Fences but
RocketDock is prettier. With just one "fence" (window) for all the
shortcuts, it seems RocketDock would be more like a Favorites manager.
So I can have N icons sitting on the Windows desktop or I have those
same N icons sitting in a window for RocketDock. Doesn't seem like I've
saved any screen realestate unless I use auto-hide (which obviates the
live preview feature for dragging app windows to RocketDock). It
certainly doesn't handle the situation where screen resolution is
reduced as even more icons will be off screen, invisible, and unusable.
You have to use RocketDock as a short-list app launcher.

I play with RocketDock from time to time, but it isn't what I normally
use which is mostly Aston Shell (aka Aston Desktop). While it has
Launchbar (like RocketDock but not as classy, but with more features),
side toolbars, side panels, widgets (like gadgets), etc. I even like it
over the Windows 7 desktop. I use Aston2 with XP and Windows 7 and
Aston1 with Windows 2000 (Aston2 won't run under W2K or lower).

--
Bill
Gateway M465e ('06 era) - Thunderbird v3.0
Centrino Core2 Duo 2GHz - 1.5GB - Windows 7

"Zanqeutil" wrote in message
...
Phil schreef:
Every time I open my user, the desk top rearranges with
everything
grouped on the left side of the screen. I move icons where I
want
them, but next time, it is rearranged.

Also, there are items that show up when I look at the desktop
in
Windows Explorer, but are not visible on the screen. If I try
to
duplicate the shortcuts onto the screen, it tellls me they
are already
there. How do I restore these icons to visibility?

TIA

Phil


You can try:

Icon Restore
http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

or
Icon desktop Restorer
http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html

Manual methode:Windows XP, Windows 7:
http://mintywhite.com/windows-7/7cus...yout-quicktip/

There are more similar programs, Google 'restore desktop'

Regards,

Zanqeutil

I've had Icon Restore on my desktop for years...really does the
trick.
After install, access by right-click on Recycle Bin, gives
option to
Save Layout or Restore Layout.

Sylvia M.

based on an earlier comment I just read, I was thinking I should do
something like this. Maybe I'll turn off the likely culprets first,
particularly if there is anything to do with screen resolution.

Phil

On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:29:14 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Phil wrote:

Well, I woke up, turned on the computer and.... all the icons were
moved and bunched up again. Some were, once again missing, even though
I had restored them yesterday.

Have you tried using msconfig.exe to disable all startup items, position
the desktop icons, and reboot to see if the icons stayed where you put
them?

OK, I'm about to go play guitar in a bar. Then there are some fun
things to try in the icon restore department!

Thanks everyone,

Phil


On Sun, 11 Mar 2012 21:32:13 -0700, "Sylvia M"
wrote:


"Zanqeutil" wrote in message
...
Phil schreef:
Every time I open my user, the desk top rearranges with
everything
grouped on the left side of the screen. I move icons where I
want
them, but next time, it is rearranged.

Also, there are items that show up when I look at the desktop
in
Windows Explorer, but are not visible on the screen. If I try
to
duplicate the shortcuts onto the screen, it tellls me they
are already
there. How do I restore these icons to visibility?

TIA

Phil


You can try:

Icon Restore
http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

or
Icon desktop Restorer
http://fsl.sytes.net/iconrestorer.html

Manual methode:Windows XP, Windows 7:
http://mintywhite.com/windows-7/7cus...yout-quicktip/

There are more similar programs, Google 'restore desktop'

Regards,

Zanqeutil

I've had Icon Restore on my desktop for years...really does the
trick.
After install, access by right-click on Recycle Bin, gives
option to
Save Layout or Restore Layout.

Sylvia M.