Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geek Speak => Topic started by: chris on 20/04/2008 10:00:27
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When I copy files to my desktop, for instance from an Internet FTP site, they end up all over the screen. Presumably Windows is auto-arranging my dektop for me, but it's a pain because it makes the files hard to locate amongst the other rubbish on the screen.
How can I make the thing just put the icon where I first drop them on the desktop?
Chris
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Go to a blank area of the desktop, and right click. Select the Arrange Icons By option, and a sub-menu will pop up. Is the option Auto Arrange, in the sub-menu, ticked or unticked?
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right click>arrange icons by> and untick align to grid
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right click>arrange icons by> and untick align to grid
Align to grid should have no significant impact (it will only cause the icon to be moved a few pixels in order to align to the grid - 'auto arrange' will cause the icons to be re-ordered, which is what Chris seems to be concerned about.
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yeah, but the icon will go exactly where you drop it that way
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No, interestingly "Autoarrange" is not ticked, although "align to grid" is. The bugger still moves my icon to somewhere else once the file stops copying. Other machines I use, however, do not do this, so there must be some funny configuration that needs tweaking.
I love windows.
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I love windows.
Sarcasm becomes you.
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I just drag them around with the mouse - I have followed the advice in this thread but I believe my icons will stay where I have just dragged them. I will restart my computer now and report later!
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They are still where I put them after restarting - is this what you asked about Chris?
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I use this great little program called Icon restore, it is free and super easy to use. Get it here:
http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html
this will add two new items to your drop down list when you right click on my computer icon, one for save desktop icon layout and one for restore desktop icon layout. Set up your icons the way you want them then hit the save icon layout selection to save it. If you happen to get your icons all shuffled for some reason (we know the gremlins in our computers do that stuff just to mess with our heads) then you just select the restore desktop icon layout and voila you are back to your happy place (assuming you had previously at some point hit that save desktop icon layout button). Hope this helps, I use it and love it.
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Enterra Icon Keeper (http://www.sharewarecheap.com/Enterra-Icon-Keeper-Deluxe_software_3136.html) is an elegant solution to the icons arrangement problem. It works fine for me, so I think it also must be helpful for you. Though it's shareware you can try it for free.
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When I copy files to my desktop, for instance from an Internet FTP site, they end up all over the screen.
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How can I make the thing just put the icon where I first drop them on the desktop?
Chris
I can't help with stabilising the desktop, but it may be helpful to save to somewhere else?
I got fed up with these download files sitting all over the DT, so I have a downloads folder and put them all in that.
In Firefox you set this in Tools-Options-Main. You have the choice of setting a default save-to folder, or making it ask you each time. I haven't got IE handy just now, but I think there is a similar setting in that.