Go Back   Cyber Tech Help Support Forums > Operating Systems > Windows 10

Notices

Windows 10 Problem solving for the Windows 10 Operating System.

Reply
 
Topic Tools
  #1  
Old April 25th, 2018, 08:38 AM
Ned Seagoon's Avatar
Ned Seagoon Ned Seagoon is offline
CTH Subscriber
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
O/S: Windows 10 Home
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Age: 80
Posts: 3,670
Desktop.ini icon wandering

I have two greyed file icons called Desktop.ini on my desktop, I have my system set to show hidden files, (I prefer to know what's there). However sometimes on boot one of these icons will move to a different location on the desktop and disrupt my other icons, making a mess of what I want on the desktop.

How can I stop this random wandering by a desktop.ini icon?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old April 26th, 2018, 04:22 PM
Digerati Digerati is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Nebraska, USA
Posts: 2,562
Just delete them. desktop.ini files are not needed. That is an unwanted side effect of having "show hidden files" enabled.

These files are used by Windows when you customize the display/view properties of a folder - and the desktop is basically a folder. Fortunately, Windows saves the desktop configuration separately so you can safely delete the desktop.ini folder from the desktop and keep your other custom desktop settings, as well as custom view settings of any other folder you changed.

HOWEVER, next time you change your desktop view, Windows will recreate desktop.ini and it again might move your other icons about. Other actions can move your icons too. Some Windows Updates include file updates that affect/reset icon position. I have had graphics driver updates change them too.

I feel your pain here. I use two monitors and have various icons located exactly where I want them. So I find it frustrating to have them moved about. As long as "show hidden files" is enabled, you cannot prevent this from happening or from messing up your other icons. But there is a pretty easy workaround that I use.

Download and install DesktopOK. Organize your desktop icons just the way you like them. Then run DesktopOK and Save your Desktop. You can then exit the program or keep it running minimized to your Notification/System tray. I exit it then just call it up again from the Start menu when I need it again.

Then next time your icon positions get scrambled, run DesktopOK and "Restore" your previously saved Desktop and you are good to go.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old April 27th, 2018, 12:52 PM
Ned Seagoon's Avatar
Ned Seagoon Ned Seagoon is offline
CTH Subscriber
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
O/S: Windows 10 Home
Location: Sunshine Coast, Australia
Age: 80
Posts: 3,670
Thanks for that, I'll give it a go.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Topic Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Topics
Topic Topic Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wandering Windows Mrs.Lufbra Windows 10 26 July 23rd, 2018 07:11 PM
My desktop icon are all gone :( owenscott Malware Removal 10 January 12th, 2007 04:08 AM
Desktop icon Peery Smith Windows XP 2 June 8th, 2005 03:10 AM
Icon on desktop Leftio7 Windows XP 8 April 13th, 2004 07:58 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:35 PM.