Auto Arrange By Name Not Working

Hey all,

No matter what config I try under Arrange Icons By I can't seem to get
them to arrange by name, size, type or modified (every time I get what
appears to be a random reorganization that is not as it should be) and
its driving me crazy.

I have Align To Grid & Show Desktop Items checked.

Any ideas on why this is so and how I might fix it would be much
appreciated!

Thanks for your insights,
Bird

AutoArrange
[[Arranges the icons in columns along the left side of your screen.]]

<quote>
SYMPTOMS
If you sort the icons on your desktop from the Context menu, by pointing to
Arrange Icons, and then clicking by name, the icons are listed, but some of
the icons at the bottom of the list may not be in alphabetical order.

CAUSE
This behavior can occur because the desktop displays the icons from the
Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop folder and the Documents and
Settings\Current User\Desktop folder.

RESOLUTION
To work around this behavior, do not have any files in the Documents and
Settings\All Users\Desktop folder.

STATUS
This behavior is by design.
<quote>
from...
Arranging the Icons by Name on the Desktop Does Not Place the Icons in
Alphabetical Order
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/285814

If sorted by Name:
Folders will be listed first along the left hand side from top to bottom.
Then files will be listed.
Folder shortcuts will be listed along with the files.

Also try this.

<quote>
Re-create the ShellIconCache file. This file is re-created automatically
when you change your display's color depth. Follow these steps to change
your display's color depth to a new setting and then change it back to the
original setting:

1. Right-click the desktop and then click Properties.
2. Click the Settings tab.
3. Change the color depth from the current setting to a new setting. For
example, change from Highest (32 bit) to Lowest (16 bit).
4. Click Apply, and then click Yes to accept the changes.
5. Change the color depth back to its original setting.
6. Click Apply, and then click Yes to accept the changes.
<quote>
from...
Icons randomly change to different icons
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/132668

Right click Desktop | Arrange Icons By

Name
[[Arrange icons in alphabetical order by the icon name. ]]

Size
[[Arrange icons in order of file size. If the icon is a shortcut to a
program, the size refers to the size of the shortcut file. ]]

Type
[[Arrange icons in order of type. For example, if you have shortcuts to
several PowerPoint presentations on your desktop, these will be arranged
next to each other. ]]

Modified
[[Arrange icons in the order that the shortcut was last modified. ]]

Show in groups
[[Show in Groups allows you to group your files by any detail of the file,
such as name, size, type, or date modified. ]]

AutoArrange
[[For the Desktop, arrange the icons in columns along the left side of your
screen.]]

[[For folders, arranges the icons in rows and columns.]]

Align to Grid
[[Snap icons into place as designated by an invisible grid on
your screen. The grid keeps the icons aligned with each other. ]]

Show Desktop Icons
[[Icons Hide or show all desktop icons. When this command is checked,
desktop icons are displayed on your desktop. ]]

Lock Web Items on Desktop
[[Specifies whether Web content windows or items that you have placed on
your desktop are locked in place and can’t be moved. Select the check box to
lock Web content in place. Clear the check box if you want to be able to
move Web content.]]

If Lock Web Items on Desktop is checked...
Items can be moved, but they are moved back after reboot.

This problem may also occur if you turn on the Lock Web Items on Desktop
feature...

Desktop icons and icon labels may not display background transparency or the
drop shadow effect in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305117

Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard
[[The Desktop Cleanup Wizard displays a list of the desktop icons that have
not been used for 60 days or more, enabling you to remove those icons that
you don't want on your desktop. You can retrieve icons you have removed by
opening the Unused Desktop Shortcuts folder on your desktop. ]]

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:1157083219.066332.305050@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com,
JohnBirdJD.RemoveThis@gmail.com <JohnBirdJD.RemoveThis@gmail.com> hunted and pecked:
> Hey all,
>
> No matter what config I try under Arrange Icons By I can't seem to get
> them to arrange by name, size, type or modified (every time I get what
> appears to be a random reorganization that is not as it should be) and
> its driving me crazy.
>
> I have Align To Grid & Show Desktop Items checked.
>
> Any ideas on why this is so and how I might fix it would be much
> appreciated!
>
> Thanks for your insights,
> Bird