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Windows XP and the Display - Desktop

Save and Restore Desktop Icon Layout

SUMMARY: Restore Desktop icon positions in case Windows XP forgets them.

When changing the screen resolution, toggling the "Auto Arrange" or "Align to Grid" features, and sometimes seemingly for no reason whatsoever, Windows XP may rearrange your Desktop icons.

If you have taken time to organize your icons into areas of your Desktop, placing frequently-used icons near the top left, the Recycle Bin at the bottom-right, etc., this rearrangement can be very annoying. Luckily, there is a way you can save your Desktop icon layout for later recall.

Icon Restore is an application for Windows that adds two items to the right-click menu of folder and system icons such as "My Computer" and "Recycle Bin":

* Save Desktop Icon Layout
* Restore Desktop Icon Layout

With these options you should be able to quickly store and retrieve icon layouts in case Windows XP changes them for you.

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


Icon Restore cannot be removed by Windows XP's "Add or Remove Programs" Control Panel. The website includes a download that, when executed, can uninstall Icon Restore.

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The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >