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How to lock/save icon positions in XP?

Operating System, Common Application & ThinkPad Utilities Questions...
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think_yapook
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How to lock/save icon positions in XP?

#1 Post by think_yapook » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:05 pm

Hi, I have the following problem:

I have to switch between the external displays very often through the day - external monitors, smart board, projector etc.

Switching the resolution usually makes the right mess of the arrangement of icons, which gets really annoying especially when I have a lot of them.

Is there any simple solution to lock them? Im sure someone (IBM?) must have thought of that (?)

my laptop is x60s

thanks a lot!

Neil
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Re: How to lock/save icon positions in XP?

#2 Post by Neil » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:29 pm

May I just jump on here, and ride along? I too have this problem, and feel rather sure that there is a solution. I just don't know what it is, either.

I often arrange my desktop icons in unusual ways around my wallpaper. So, a change of resolution, or the booting of a live Linux CD, or sometimes just a reboot will mess up my arrangement. I would like to know how to make it "stick" too. This way when someone points you/us to the solution we'll both know.
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Re: How to lock/save icon positions in XP?

#3 Post by rkawakami » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:51 pm

For the instances like you describe in changing video resolution, as well as encountering the rare times that Windows itself messes it up, I use a freeware program called Desktop Restore which is available from here:

http://www.midiox.com/ (Click the Desktop Restore link in the left column)

The nice thing about this utility is that it is accessible by right-clicking the desktop and selecting one of several options: Save, Restore, Custom Save/Restore. You can save many different layouts if that's what you want/need. It's not an automatic way of restoring/locking the desktop icons when switching resolutions but it may work for you.
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Re: How to lock/save icon positions in XP?

#4 Post by dr_st » Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:23 pm

Another vote for Desktop Restore. A brilliant little program. Have been using it on all my computers.
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think_yapook
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Re: How to lock/save icon positions in XP?

#5 Post by think_yapook » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:55 am

Thanks for replies guys. I installed Desktop Restore and its great! Exactly what I was after, seem to be nice and lightweight too :)

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