Windows Desktop Layout

[Mike Rivers]

Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody ever asked.

Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout - the positon of
the icons?

I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I change settings
(like resolution, or font size), the desktop comes up with the icons in
different places. Is there a file that I can back up that will restore
them to their original locations? There are desktop.ini files all over
the place, but that doesn't seem to do the trick.

I'm just taking a screen shot of the desktop and using that as a
reference to rearrange the icons after the get scrambled, but there
must be a better way.

[JohnO]

> I want to play with monitor settings,

A separate user account for each resolution setting may be the only
way. If they are all admin accounts, the only real diff would be the
desktop settings. In the back of my mind I wonder if there will be
other problems with this approach.

The gurus on the Win forums might have a better idea.

-John O

[Rv!]

"Mike Rivers"
> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout - the positon of
> the icons?

Might be worth a try...
http://www.softplatz.com/Soft/Utilities/Backup/Frozen-Icons.html

Rv!

[Rv!]

On second thoughts...
http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/sl.htm

[Rv!]

Darn, That used to be free and decent but it's all **** now.

Rv!



"Rv!"
> On second thoughts...
> http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/sl.htm
>

[Bigguy]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody ever asked.
>
> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout - the positon of
> the icons?
>

Yes... see http://www.midiox.com/html/desktop.htm

Save Icon - allows save / restore of icon layout.... most useful prog

Guy

[Arny Krueger]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
ups.com
> Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody
> ever asked.
>
> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout -
> the positon of the icons?
>
> I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I
> change settings (like resolution, or font size), the
> desktop comes up with the icons in different places.

Turn off "auto arrange"?

[JohnO]

Arny Krueger wrote:
> "Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
> ups.com
> > Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody
> > ever asked.
> >
> > Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout -
> > the positon of the icons?
> >
> > I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I
> > change settings (like resolution, or font size), the
> > desktop comes up with the icons in different places.
>
> Turn off "auto arrange"?

If you reduce the screen rez, Windows will pull all the icons in to fit
the smaller screen anyway. I see this whenever I use a projector with
my laptop, and my icons are otherwise locked down. This is probably a
good thing, as otherwise those icons would be forever inaccessible.

-John O

[Richard Crowley]

"Arny Krueger" wrote ...
> "Mike Rivers" wrote
>> Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody
>> ever asked.
>>
>> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout -
>> the positon of the icons?
>>
>> I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I
>> change settings (like resolution, or font size), the
>> desktop comes up with the icons in different places.
>
> Turn off "auto arrange"?

That seems like the obvious answer unless Mr. Rivers
is talking about some other issue?

[Arny Krueger]

"JohnO" > wrote in message
ps.com
> Arny Krueger wrote:
>> "Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
>> ups.com
>>> Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that
>>> nobody ever asked.
>>>
>>> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout -
>>> the positon of the icons?
>>>
>>> I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I
>>> change settings (like resolution, or font size), the
>>> desktop comes up with the icons in different places.
>>
>> Turn off "auto arrange"?
>
> If you reduce the screen rez, Windows will pull all the
> icons in to fit the smaller screen anyway.

That's a consequence of trying to fit 5 pounds of icons onto a 3 pound
desktop, no?

"There is no free lunch".

> I see this
> whenever I use a projector with my laptop, and my icons
> are otherwise locked down. This is probably a good thing,
> as otherwise those icons would be forever inaccessible.

Sue Microsoft for actually trying to be user friendly! ;-)

[theclyde]

> > > I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I
> > > change settings (like resolution, or font size), the
> > > desktop comes up with the icons in different places.
> >
> > Turn off "auto arrange"?
>
> If you reduce the screen rez, Windows will pull all the icons in to fit
> the smaller screen anyway. I see this whenever I use a projector with
> my laptop, and my icons are otherwise locked down. This is probably a
> good thing, as otherwise those icons would be forever inaccessible.

I can second this - even with auto arrange off, my icons are moved all
over the place if I swap to a resolution that will nto show them all.

[The Spanish Inquisition]

Mike Rivers wrote:
> Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody ever asked.
>
> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout - the positon of
> the icons?
>
> I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I change settings
> (like resolution, or font size), the desktop comes up with the icons in
> different places. Is there a file that I can back up that will restore
> them to their original locations? There are desktop.ini files all over
> the place, but that doesn't seem to do the trick.
>
> I'm just taking a screen shot of the desktop and using that as a
> reference to rearrange the icons after the get scrambled, but there
> must be a better way.

Use Linux!

Ximinez (OK, I'm kidding)
--
Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...
and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope....
http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/t1.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gldlyTjXk9A

[Roy W. Rising]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote:
> Me, again, with another dumb Windows question that nobody ever asked.
>
> Is there a way to save and restore the desktop layout - the positon of
> the icons?
>
> I want to play with monitor settings, but every time I change settings
> (like resolution, or font size), the desktop comes up with the icons in
> different places. Is there a file that I can back up that will restore
> them to their original locations? There are desktop.ini files all over
> the place, but that doesn't seem to do the trick.
>
> I'm just taking a screen shot of the desktop and using that as a
> reference to rearrange the icons after the get scrambled, but there
> must be a better way.

NOT a dumb question. I use a utility called WinTidy. It does exactly what
you require. Just Google on the name. ~ Roy

--
~ Roy
"If you notice the sound, it's wrong!"

[Mike Rivers]

JohnO wrote:

> If you reduce the screen rez, Windows will pull all the icons in to fit
> the smaller screen anyway. I see this whenever I use a projector with
> my laptop, and my icons are otherwise locked down. This is probably a
> good thing, as otherwise those icons would be forever inaccessible.

I understand. But if only it was smart enough to go back to the way it
was before it shrunk. I'm looking at hanging an LCD monitor on my
laptop when it's in the house. The laptop screen is 768x1024 and the
LCD native resolutin is 1024x1280. And everyone knows that LCDs don't
look good unless they're run at their native resolution.

This may cause more problems than it's worth, though, as I'd probalby
want to resize all of my applications to fill the screen at the higher
resolution and then they'd be wrong when going "native." . But I'm just
thinking and fooling around.

[Mike Rivers]

Bigguy wrote:

> Yes... see http://www.midiox.com/html/desktop.htm

Looks like it's right on target. I'll give it a shot.

[Frank Vuotto]

On 23 Aug 2006 10:08:21 -0700, "Mike Rivers" >
wrote:

>I understand. But if only it was smart enough to go back to the way it
>was before it shrunk. I'm looking at hanging an LCD monitor on my
>laptop when it's in the house.

If you're going to switch or use dual monitors you should look into a
great little program called Ultramon (ultramon.com) It can save the
icon positions, run multiple monitors in different resolutions has a
cool taskbar function and adds a few buttons to windows title bars
that can open windows across both monitors and more.

Way cool, I've been using it for years with no problems.

Frank /~ http://newmex.com/f10
@/

[JohnO]

> The laptop screen is 768x1024 and the
> LCD native resolutin is 1024x1280. And everyone knows that LCDs don't
> look good unless they're run at their native resolution.

Wild idea...maybe the LCD has a mode where instead of stretching the
smaller screen to fit, aka UGLY mode, it instead shows the 1024 x 768
image on exactly that many pixels and leaves the others blank...leaving
you with the black border that most folks hate. That might be in the
settings somewhere.

(BTW, the width is usually noted first, such as 1280 x 1024)

-John O

[Ricky Hunt]

"Roy W. Rising" > wrote in message
...
>
> NOT a dumb question. I use a utility called WinTidy. It does exactly
> what
> you require. Just Google on the name. ~ Roy

I second WinTidy.

[Laurence Payne]

On 23 Aug 2006 10:08:21 -0700, "Mike Rivers" >
wrote:

>
>I understand. But if only it was smart enough to go back to the way it
>was before it shrunk. I'm looking at hanging an LCD monitor on my
>laptop when it's in the house. The laptop screen is 768x1024 and the
>LCD native resolutin is 1024x1280. And everyone knows that LCDs don't
>look good unless they're run at their native resolution.
>
>This may cause more problems than it's worth, though, as I'd probalby
>want to resize all of my applications to fill the screen at the higher
>resolution and then they'd be wrong when going "native." . But I'm just
>thinking and fooling around.

As you're making a relatively small change in resolution, it shouldn't
be too hard to design a desktop that survives the change - just work
out which area of the larger screen to avoid. How many icons do you
need on your desktop anyway? A dozen at the most? Don't forget the
Quick Launch bar is an excellent place to keep shortcuts to
frequently-used programs.

[Mike Rivers]

Laurence Payne wrote:

> As you're making a relatively small change in resolution, it shouldn't
> be too hard to design a desktop that survives the change - just work
> out which area of the larger screen to avoid. How many icons do you
> need on your desktop anyway? A dozen at the most?

Please don't try to redesign my computer life.

> Don't forget the
> Quick Launch bar is an excellent place to keep shortcuts to
> frequently-used programs.

Yeah, but the desktop is more convenient. I know where everything is
and I don't have to look through a list.

[zero]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Laurence Payne wrote:
>
> Yeah, but the desktop is more convenient. I know where everything is
> and I don't have to look through a list.

Ok, I had a similar dilemma.

I opened up a quick GUEST account and did all my experimenting there.
It's a no-harm no-foul kinda environment. :-)
No additional software to tango with, too.


-zero

[Richard Crowley]

"Mike Rivers" wrote ...
> Laurence Payne wrote:
>
>> As you're making a relatively small change in resolution, it shouldn't
>> be too hard to design a desktop that survives the change - just work
>> out which area of the larger screen to avoid. How many icons do you
>> need on your desktop anyway? A dozen at the most?
>
> Please don't try to redesign my computer life.
>
>> Don't forget the
>> Quick Launch bar is an excellent place to keep shortcuts to
>> frequently-used programs.
>
> Yeah, but the desktop is more convenient. I know where everything is
> and I don't have to look through a list.

You may be thinking of the "Start List"?

The Quick-launch bar is just to the right of the [Start] button
(assuming default layout across the bottom of the screen.)
I keep all my most used icons there and it is immune from
screen changes/rearrangements, etc. Another advantage is
that they are always visible unlike the icons on the desktop
which are always covered by active application windows.
I find it to be a huge time-saver and a great convieience.

But the greatest single thing I have installed on my computers
is Dave's Quick Search Deskbar http://www.dqsd.com/
Its power and range of search sources makes the Google
and others look like toys by comparison. And free. Dunno
what I would do without it.

[Mike Rivers]

I. Care wrote:

> I create desktop folders for various categories and put the shortcut
> icons within them. This lowers the number of icons on the desktop

I do that, too. I have one for "Recording Programs" which contains
icons for Audacity, Sequoia, Sound Forge, Total Recorder, and a few
others. I create ones for current audio projects and current writing
projects. And I keep Netscape, Notepad, and Thunderbird on the "quick
launch" bar. Still, the current current desktop cound is . . . . . 44.

[Lorin David Schultz]

Mike Rivers > wrote:
>
> Yeah, but the desktop is more convenient. I know where everything
> is and I don't have to look through a list.



By Quick Launch he means the area to the immediate right the Start
button on the taskbar. While I appreciate that your question was about
icon positioning and NOT about alternative working methods, I would
encourage you to explore that suggestion before dismissing it. It
mitigates the problem you're experiencing and has other benefits too.

I have the ten items I use most often on mine. They open with a single
click rather than double, and, most important, are visible even with
another application open full screen. If I'm working in one program and
want to do something quick in another, I don't have to minimize the
first one to get at the icon for the second.

It may not be practical to have more than a dozen or so, since it uses
taskbar real estate, but it sure is handy. I could now probably get by
fine with no icons on the desktop at all, since the ones I use every day
are on the taskbar, and it's not a big deal to go to the list for the
ones I only use when the moon is blue. I haven't done that yet though,
so one of the icons in Quick Launch is "Show Desktop" so that I can
minimize ALL open windows with one click.

To get at it, right-click anywhere on the taskbar. Uncheck "Lock the
Taskbar." Now right-click the taskbar again and click "Toolbars." Make
sure "Quick Launch" is checked. Drag icons into the Quick Launch area,
which can be resized if desired by dragging the border at its right hand
edge. When you're done adding icons and resizing, right-click the
taskbar one last time, turn on "Lock the Taskbar" and you'll have a
little "safe area" for icons!

But to address your ACTUAL QUESTION: <g>

I don't know for sure if this will work, but it only takes a minute to
try: Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select
"Properties." Try saving a "Theme." See if that will store your icon
locations. When you want to put them back, got into Properties again
and tell it to reload that Theme.

--
"It CAN'T be too loud... some of the red lights aren't even on yet!"
- Lorin David Schultz
in the control room
making even bad news sound good

(Remove spamblock to reply)

[JohnO]

> so one of the icons in Quick Launch is "Show Desktop" so that I can
> minimize ALL open windows with one click.

The Windows key plus "m" does the same thing. Do it again to restore
all the windows.

Between the quick launch bar and the list that pops up when I click
Start, I have one- or two-click access to 17 different apps.

We each have our own ways of doing it though. :-)

-John O

[Mike Rivers]

Lorin David Schultz wrote:

> By Quick Launch he means the area to the immediate right the Start
> button on the taskbar.

Yes, I know what that is. There really aren't that many things that I
use often enough to add more icons to the quick-launch bar, but I have
difficulty finding things on the Start menu, so that's why I put them
all on the desktop.

> If I'm working in one program and
> want to do something quick in another, I don't have to minimize the
> first one to get at the icon for the second.

Yes, that's handy. I have Solitaire on there just for that reason - so
I can get at it when I'm waiting for a program to do something and I
don't feel like doing anything more creative. I probably should put
Notepad on there too.

> But to address your ACTUAL QUESTION: <g>
>
> I don't know for sure if this will work, but it only takes a minute to
> try: Right-click on an empty area of the desktop and select
> "Properties." Try saving a "Theme." See if that will store your icon
> locations.

I don't think so, but the little applet that someone suggested seems to
work just fine.

[Laurence Payne]

On 23 Aug 2006 19:09:51 -0700, "Mike Rivers" >
wrote:

>> As you're making a relatively small change in resolution, it shouldn't
>> be too hard to design a desktop that survives the change - just work
>> out which area of the larger screen to avoid. How many icons do you
>> need on your desktop anyway? A dozen at the most?
>
>Please don't try to redesign my computer life.
>
>> Don't forget the
>> Quick Launch bar is an excellent place to keep shortcuts to
>> frequently-used programs.
>
>Yeah, but the desktop is more convenient. I know where everything is
>and I don't have to look through a list.

YOU'RE redesigning your computer life by wanting two different
resolutions to co-exist.

[Mike Rivers]

Laurence Payne wrote:

> YOU'RE redesigning your computer life by wanting two different
> resolutions to co-exist.

Well, if they made LCD monitors that worked right, I wouldn't have to
do that. The built-in LCD monitor for the laptop is 1024x768, but the
ones that I can buy for desktop use have a native resolution of
1280x1024 minimum. And as everybody knows, you should always run an LCD
at its native resolution for best results.

I can of course continue to use the CRT that I"m using now, and have
been using for several years on the old laptop when it's on the desk. I
just thought I'd try to get a little modern . . oh, well. Stuck in the
past again.

[Laurence Payne]

On 24 Aug 2006 17:58:20 -0700, "Mike Rivers" >
wrote:

>Well, if they made LCD monitors that worked right, I wouldn't have to
>do that. The built-in LCD monitor for the laptop is 1024x768, but the
>ones that I can buy for desktop use have a native resolution of
>1280x1024 minimum. And as everybody knows, you should always run an LCD
>at its native resolution for best results.
>
>I can of course continue to use the CRT that I"m using now, and have
>been using for several years on the old laptop when it's on the desk. I
>just thought I'd try to get a little modern . . oh, well. Stuck in the
>past again.

Will your new laptop support dual monitors? The laptop screen can't
be detached. Why not use it? As an icon store (if that's what you
REALLY want), drag other windows to the larger monitor?

[Mike Rivers]

Laurence Payne wrote:

> Will your new laptop support dual monitors?

Yes.

> The laptop screen can't be detached. Why not use it?

I do use it, when the computer is away from home. But at home, I prefer
to use a larger monitor so I can see better. At home, the computer sits
on a shelf above the desk, and above eye level. The monitor is on the
desk, with a keyboard in front of it, just like a real computer.

[Arny Krueger]

"Mike Rivers" > wrote in message
oups.com
> Laurence Payne wrote:
>
>> YOU'RE redesigning your computer life by wanting two
>> different resolutions to co-exist.
>
> Well, if they made LCD monitors that worked right, I
> wouldn't have to do that. The built-in LCD monitor for
> the laptop is 1024x768, but the ones that I can buy for
> desktop use have a native resolution of 1280x1024
> minimum. And as everybody knows, you should always run an
> LCD at its native resolution for best results.

I've noticed that some LCDs are more tolerant of being run at lower
resolutions than others.

[Laurence Payne]

On 25 Aug 2006 04:40:37 -0700, "Mike Rivers" >
wrote:

>> The laptop screen can't be detached. Why not use it?
>
>I do use it, when the computer is away from home. But at home, I prefer
>to use a larger monitor so I can see better. At home, the computer sits
>on a shelf above the desk, and above eye level. The monitor is on the
>desk, with a keyboard in front of it, just like a real computer.

OK. You've described exactly how you want to set things up, both how
you arrange icons on your desktop and how you arrange your hardware.
I'm just suggesting that maybe these aren't the BEST ways to set
things up :-)

[Mike Rivers]

Laurence Payne wrote:

> OK. You've described exactly how you want to set things up, both how
> you arrange icons on your desktop and how you arrange your hardware.
> I'm just suggesting that maybe these aren't the BEST ways to set
> things up :-)

Well, it's worked for too long to change now. I think I'm getting
closer to solving my real problem though. I switched the monitor back
and forth between the new and old laptopsl (similar desktop layout on
both) and compared both the appearance and settings. Turns out that I
had switched the old one to large fonts long enough so that I didn't
remember doing that. They look a lot better when they're larger.

Of course the desktop saver didn't save me because it didn't have a
"template" with those font sizes. Grrrrrr . . .