How do I keep Win 10 from scattering my desktop shortcuts....

+1 for DesktopOK

Windows doesn't mangle my icons very often - usually when I upgrade the GPU driver

It seems to me that your normal desktop screen resolution is "dumping" and resetting at some point in the shutdown/restart process. For example, if you are using 2560x1440 with your icons on the periphery, then your screen resolution resets to, say, 1920x1080, that would force all your icons to move. They would auto arrange just as you've described.

I suggest you look at your screen resolution settings. (Win10 settings, GPU driver settings, monitor default settings, etc.)

mike s said:

This worked for me even on my managed office PC. Uncheck the "allow themes to change" box under "icon settings".

Attachment 250515

This seems to have worked...I thought it was only for desktop icon but I'll take it! Thank you.

DWFII said:

This seems to have worked...I thought it was only for desktop icon but I'll take it! Thank you.

It's the placebo effect. That setting has absolutely nothing to do with arranging icons. And as shown in the image, there is NO setting there dealing with icon arrangements. Placebo effect.

I dump all desktop shortcuts into a well organized start menu.

The Pool Man said:

I dump all desktop shortcuts into a well organized start menu.

It's a really good idea, I can see that. But I've gotten so used to having my most used programs on the desktop, it's hard to break the habit.

I'd be interested in seeing a screen shot of your "well organized start menu" if you would be so kind....

DWFII said:

I'd be interested in seeing a screen shot of your "well organized start menu" if you would be so kind....

I use the taskbar with combine buttons option. And keep only my most used shortcuts there...



Never did like a cluttered desktop.

DWFII said:

But I've gotten so used to having my most used programs on the desktop, it's hard to break the habit.

I was an Apple ONLY user for 29 years. You wanna talk to me about hard habits to break?

One thing you say confuses me. You say you keep your most used programs on the desktop. Since the taskbar is always there -- shouldn't your most used programs go there? Right in front of you?

What I put in my Start Menu is less used apps. I still use them -- enough to want them kind of handy. The way I organize is by theme. Like all the Office apps (LibreOffice) are in a pack together. There's a photo editing block top left.

There's an entire group of system apps near each other. Windows Defender is big (to remind me to run it now and again). Right below it is the free version of Malware bytes, an Asus Utility, the spinning arrow is Windows update, the three lines icon next to it is apps and features. This saves me from having to navigate through settings for all of this stuff.


I have two additional browsers handy. Some audio stuff. Some virtual environment stuff. I'm not anal about it. I just put things near each other to help me remember I even half them.

The cool thing is I never dive into that app list for anything. If it's worth using I put it in the start menu so that I never forget I have it. One thing I couldn't do on Mac (but can in Windows) is hide the trash can. I like having it tucked away.

By the by, you may notice nothing is on my desktop. But I'm using an app that autohides everything after 12 seconds.

If you're paying closer attention you might notice by taskbar is transparent. And that it's centered. There are apps for this, both free.

Hope this helps.

The Pool Man said:

If you're paying closer attention you might notice by taskbar is transparent. And that it's centered. There are apps for this, both free.

I was using that that TranslucentTB app, but haven't reinstalled it yet after my last OS reinstall. Thanks for reminding me. What's the centering app (or setting)?

Thanks

sygnus21 said:

I was using that that TranslucentTB app, but haven't reinstalled it yet after my last OS reinstall. Thanks for reminding me. What's the centering app (or setting)?

Thankfully I didn't confuse you, but I just noticed my taskbar wasn't translucent. That's because that effect goes away when the start menu is invoked. It's there otherwise.

The center app is called FalconX.

https://chrisandriessen.nl/web/FalconX.html