icon layout saver

"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
On 4/12/2015 1:24 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/11/2015 5:15 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up) and
to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP, but it
doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.


My experience is that none of the desktop icon savers are perfect. I
have both Icon Cofiguration Utility (ICU) and dips64 and use both
whenever I change the layout of my desktop icons. This way, I hope to
be able to restore my layout no matter how mangled it gets.

You already have ICU. dips64 is available at
http://amip.tools-for.net/files/dips64/.


Thank you, David. Should this link open a page that shows an index of four
files--one of which is the .exe?




The one with the .exe file extension?
--

~Bruce

On 4/12/2015 6:10 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Jo-Anne
writes:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up)
and to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP,
but it doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.

Would that be the venerable EZDesk (1.8-sw from 1997!)? Yes, I was sad
when it wouldn't work in 7, it having worked since W95. I use iconoid
from sillysot, which seems to do the job well enough, without excessive
extras. (But the other suggestions probably do too.)


This one was called Icon Restore. A friend sent me the following web
address back in 2008, as I recall:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/comp...in-windows-xp/
I think there was supposed to be a .zip file on the page, but I didn't
see it when I looked today. The implication on the page is that it might
work in Windows 7, but I don't see where to find it. It was a strange
little program. You had to right-click on a folder on the desktop that
had at least one program in it. That would open the usual right-click
menu with the addition of saving or restoring the desktop icon layout.
It always worked for me.

--
Jo-Anne

On 4/12/2015 2:37 PM, Bruce Hagen wrote:
"Jo-Anne" wrote in message
...
On 4/12/2015 1:24 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/11/2015 5:15 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up) and
to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP, but it
doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.


My experience is that none of the desktop icon savers are perfect. I
have both Icon Cofiguration Utility (ICU) and dips64 and use both
whenever I change the layout of my desktop icons. This way, I hope to
be able to restore my layout no matter how mangled it gets.

You already have ICU. dips64 is available at
http://amip.tools-for.net/files/dips64/.


Thank you, David. Should this link open a page that shows an index of
four files--one of which is the .exe?



The one with the .exe file extension?

Yes, of course. I was just wondering if there should have been a more
normal-looking page. I usually see this kind of page when I end up
somewhere I shouldn't be.

--
Jo-Anne

On 4/11/2015 8:51 PM, Zo wrote:
on 4/11/2015, Jo-Anne supposed :
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up)
and to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP,
but it doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.

DesktopOK 4.05

http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopOK

New in version 4.05 // April 6th 2015
New option: Options, Save options, Custom text
Small adjustments in Desktop-OK, and new language: Catalan.


Used Desktop OK for several years, never failed. Simple and portable.

On 4/12/2015 2:50 PM, al wrote:
On 4/11/2015 8:51 PM, Zo wrote:
on 4/11/2015, Jo-Anne supposed :
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up)
and to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP,
but it doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.

DesktopOK 4.05

http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Freeware/DesktopOK

New in version 4.05 // April 6th 2015
New option: Options, Save options, Custom text
Small adjustments in Desktop-OK, and new language: Catalan.


Used Desktop OK for several years, never failed. Simple and portable.

Thank you, Al. I've bookmarked this one.

--
Jo-Anne

On 4/12/2015 3:31 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
On 4/12/2015 1:24 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/11/2015 5:15 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up) and
to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP, but it
doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.


My experience is that none of the desktop icon savers are perfect. I
have both Icon Cofiguration Utility (ICU) and dips64 and use both
whenever I change the layout of my desktop icons. This way, I hope to
be able to restore my layout no matter how mangled it gets.

You already have ICU. dips64 is available at
http://amip.tools-for.net/files/dips64/.


Thank you, David. Should this link open a page that shows an index of
four files--one of which is the .exe?

I wonder why Windows takes it into its head from time to time to
rearrange desktop icons? If MS would only arrange to leave them alone,
there'd be no need for savers.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On 4/12/2015 4:31 PM, James Silverton wrote:
On 4/12/2015 3:31 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
On 4/12/2015 1:24 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/11/2015 5:15 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up) and
to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP, but it
doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.


My experience is that none of the desktop icon savers are perfect. I
have both Icon Cofiguration Utility (ICU) and dips64 and use both
whenever I change the layout of my desktop icons. This way, I hope to
be able to restore my layout no matter how mangled it gets.

You already have ICU. dips64 is available at
http://amip.tools-for.net/files/dips64/.


Thank you, David. Should this link open a page that shows an index of
four files--one of which is the .exe?

I wonder why Windows takes it into its head from time to time to
rearrange desktop icons? If MS would only arrange to leave them alone,
there'd be no need for savers.


Agreed!

--
Jo-Anne

On 4/12/2015 12:31 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
On 4/12/2015 1:24 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/11/2015 5:15 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up) and
to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP, but it
doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.


My experience is that none of the desktop icon savers are perfect. I
have both Icon Cofiguration Utility (ICU) and dips64 and use both
whenever I change the layout of my desktop icons. This way, I hope to
be able to restore my layout no matter how mangled it gets.

You already have ICU. dips64 is available at
http://amip.tools-for.net/files/dips64/.


Thank you, David. Should this link open a page that shows an index of
four files--one of which is the .exe?


dips64-setup.exe is the installer that creates the executable for
dips64. You need to put a shortcut to the executable in your [Start
Programs] list; I cannot remember whether that happens as part of the
installation or if I had to do it manually.



--
David E. Ross

Why do we tolerate political leaders who
spend more time belittling hungry children
than they do trying to fix the problem of
hunger? http://mazon.org/

On 4/12/2015 12:43 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
On 4/12/2015 6:10 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Jo-Anne
writes:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up)
and to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP,
but it doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.

Would that be the venerable EZDesk (1.8-sw from 1997!)? Yes, I was sad
when it wouldn't work in 7, it having worked since W95. I use iconoid
from sillysot, which seems to do the job well enough, without excessive
extras. (But the other suggestions probably do too.)


This one was called Icon Restore. A friend sent me the following web
address back in 2008, as I recall:
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/comp...in-windows-xp/
I think there was supposed to be a .zip file on the page, but I didn't
see it when I looked today. The implication on the page is that it might
work in Windows 7, but I don't see where to find it. It was a strange
little program. You had to right-click on a folder on the desktop that
had at least one program in it. That would open the usual right-click
menu with the addition of saving or restoring the desktop icon layout.
It always worked for me.


I very much liked Icon Restore. It was the only such tool I installed
for Windows XP.

Unfortunately, it either does not install or does not work with Windows
7. The second paragraph on your cited link to Online Tech Tips states
that Icon Restore is only for Window 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP.

--
David E. Ross

Why do we tolerate political leaders who
spend more time belittling hungry children
than they do trying to fix the problem of
hunger? http://mazon.org/

On 4/12/2015 5:54 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/12/2015 12:31 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
On 4/12/2015 1:24 AM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 4/11/2015 5:15 PM, Jo-Anne wrote:
I'm looking for a simple program that will allow me to restore the
layout of my desktop icons in Windows 7 (when Windows screws it up) and
to change and save the layout when I want to. I have one for XP, but it
doesn't work on the new Windows 7 computer.


My experience is that none of the desktop icon savers are perfect. I
have both Icon Cofiguration Utility (ICU) and dips64 and use both
whenever I change the layout of my desktop icons. This way, I hope to
be able to restore my layout no matter how mangled it gets.

You already have ICU. dips64 is available at
http://amip.tools-for.net/files/dips64/.


Thank you, David. Should this link open a page that shows an index of
four files--one of which is the .exe?


dips64-setup.exe is the installer that creates the executable for
dips64. You need to put a shortcut to the executable in your [Start
Programs] list; I cannot remember whether that happens as part of the
installation or if I had to do it manually.



Thank you again, David.

--
Jo-Anne

In message , Jo-Anne
writes:
[]
Thank you, Shadow. I didn't realize there were several icon layout
savers available. You'd think Microsoft would allow one to do this
easily...

To do that, they'd have to admit that their system occasionally screws
up the positions, which they're unlikely (IMO) to do. (In fact, they
seem to lean towards introducing things that _intentionally_ mess them
up - from auto arrange, to "unused" icon removal, to ...)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

.... "from a person I admire, respect, and deeply love." "Who was that then?"
"Me." (Zaphod Beeblebrox in the Link episode.)

On 4/13/2015 4:16 PM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Jo-Anne
writes:
[]
Thank you, Shadow. I didn't realize there were several icon layout
savers available. You'd think Microsoft would allow one to do this
easily...

To do that, they'd have to admit that their system occasionally screws
up the positions, which they're unlikely (IMO) to do. (In fact, they
seem to lean towards introducing things that _intentionally_ mess them
up - from auto arrange, to "unused" icon removal, to ...)

True, John. I experienced icon removal several times with the new
computer (without my permission being requested and even without
notification). I finally put all the Microsoft icons into a folder on
the desktop, where they will not be removed.

--
Jo-Anne

On 2015-04-12 15:28, Jo-Anne wrote:

Thank you, Shadow. I didn't realize there were several icon layout
savers available. You'd think Microsoft would allow one to do this
easily...

Here's another one (I also did not know the other 2):
http://www.sillysot.com/

--
! _\|/_ Sylvain /
! (o o) Member-+-David-Suzuki-Fdn/EFF/Red+Cross/Planetary-Society-+-
oO-( )-Oo What makes Teflon stick to the pan?

In article , , Jo-Anne
says...

On 4/13/2015 4:16 PM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Jo-Anne
writes:
[]
Thank you, Shadow. I didn't realize there were several icon layout
savers available. You'd think Microsoft would allow one to do this
easily...

To do that, they'd have to admit that their system occasionally screws
up the positions, which they're unlikely (IMO) to do. (In fact, they
seem to lean towards introducing things that _intentionally_ mess them
up - from auto arrange, to "unused" icon removal, to ...)

True, John. I experienced icon removal several times with the new
computer (without my permission being requested and even without
notification). I finally put all the Microsoft icons into a folder on
the desktop, where they will not be removed.

I doubt some of that, and I question the value of icons on a Desktop.
Each to their own, but...

Icons are old skool. Mark these words, but MS are doing the right thing
(with Windows 8, Windows 10 (much better) and Windows Phones). They are
providing information that people - individual people - need, at their
fingertips. You don't have to *do* anything, just open your PC or
Phone, it's there. Whatever *you* want.

Icons are old skool, and mark these words too - Android and Apple will
follow. Wny, but why, does an Apple iPhone have all this 'space'
between, pretty much non-interactive, icons? What's the point of having
screen-estate if it's not used? Android have made inroads with their
Gadgets - providing useful live information on your phone, in front of
your eyes, without having to do anything. But I don't think they're
that great.

And computers... most of the time, you've an app open. You can't *see*
the Desktop anymore - it's now covered up. And indeed you may have to
minimise at least one app to get to it, to then find the (largely non-
interactive) icon on the Desktop.


My Desktop
http://1drv.ms/1CRi9jy

Now, most of the time, my Desktop has an app on it, and a lot of the
time it's fullscreen, or close to fullscreen. Such as this reply I'm
typing. I've got access to my most popular programs I use - grouped and
set out the way I want 'em. Nothing's hidden away under the apps I'm
using - there's no icons there.

Icons are boring and old skool!

But as said, each to their own - I think you're old skool - time to
change Jo-Anne

--
Duncan.

Hi, Jim.

If MS would only arrange to leave them alone, there'd be no need for
savers.

Right-click on your desktop and choose "View". Make sure that "Auto arrange
icons" is NOT checked.

You might also like to explore options such "Align icons to grid".

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2012 (Build 16.4.3528.0331) in Win8.1 Pro w/Media Center


"James Silverton" wrote in message ...
....
I wonder why Windows takes it into its head from time to time to
rearrange desktop icons? If MS would only arrange to leave them alone,
there'd be no need for savers.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)