Restore Desktop Icon Positions After Windows Rearranges Layout
More often than with previous versions of Windows, it seems Vista likes to change the desktop icon layout positions without warning after operating system updates, screen resolution changes, or new applications are installed. At first, it's not much of a problem. But as time goes by and you add shortcuts and folders, putting many icons back to where YOU want them position on the desktop, becomes frustrating.
While this problem occurs on all versions of Windows, and not just with Vista, saving and restoring your desktop layout is possible courtesy of a old resource kit utility provided by Microsoft way back in the Windows NT 4.0 days.
Thanks to this tip from jsifaq.com, you can save you desktop icon layout and restore them to the exact positions before they were rearranged by Windows, easily with a right click of the mouse.
- First, you will need to download layout.zip from PC 911 website. After download has completed, unzip layout.zip to your desktop (or folder of your choice).
- Next, copy Layout.dll to C:\Windows\System32 (for Windows XP and Vista) or C:\WINNT\System32 (for older versions of Windows).
- Now double click the file Layout.reg file to automatically add the appropriate changes to your registry.
- If not already, layout the icons on your desktop to the position you want them saved. Then right click on the Recycle Bin and select "Save Desktop Icon Layout".
The icon positions are now saved.
NOTE: Make sure you see the pop up "Desktop Icon Settings Saved" which will verify the desktop layout has been saved. If you do not see the message, right click and select "Save Desktop Icon Layout" again.
Next time Windows rearranges the icon layout again, you can restore the layout by right clicking either:
- My Computer
- Network Neighborhood (My Network Places),
- Recycle Bin
and select "Restore Desktop Icon Layout" to restore the layout back to the way you previously saved it.
You can move the icons around freely, however whenever you want them restored to their original saved positions, right click on Recycle Bin, Network Neighborhood, or My Computer again and select "Restore Desktop Icon Layout" to save the new desktop layout.
Filed under Windows Tips, Windows Vista Tips by Watching The Net
Comments on Restore Desktop Icon Positions After Windows Rearranges Layout »
Hello–I'm running Vista Home Premium (preinstalled on laptop) and this doesn't seem to work as perfectly as I'd hoped.
I did everything as you described. I saved the layout, moved an icon from the left side of the screen to the right, restored the layout, and the icon was moved back to the left. I thought everything was working as advertised until I restarted the computer. Of course stupid Vista repositioned all the icons again. However when I tried to restore the layout, all the icons vanished. It even gave me the popup "Desktop icon layout restored" as a slap in the face. I had to restart/log off to get them to reappear. I've tried restoring the layout after they get jumbled around from restarting multiple times and the icons disappear every time.
Sooo I'm still stuck with this annoying problem. Any ideas?
@Jason
Unfortunately I have not found anything and by luck remembered this utilty from the NT4 days. I'll keep looking. Hopefully one of our readers have found a solution and will leave a comment.
I also cannot use this old trick with Vista 32bit HPremium.
look on the web for ULTRAMON utility which has a feature to
save/restore desktop icons.
I've tested it and it works
Unfortunately this does not appear to work on Vista 64bit Ultimate. Installation seems to go fine, but the options are not added to any of recyle bin, computer or network neighborhood right click menus. Oh well, back to shuffling icons around every time I use remote desktop…
My speech - same as dick's: I also cannot use this old trick with Vista 32bit HPremium.
look on the web for ULTRAMON utility which has a feature to
save/restore desktop icons.
I've tested it and it works
Doesn't seem to for for me at all. Running Windows XP Pro SP3. I'm not seeing the 2 option in the right click menu and I did import the .reg file into the registry.