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Wandering desktop icons - After rebooting, the icons on the desktop change posit

tr000tyl 18615 18
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How can I stop Windows 7 desktop icons from changing position after every reboot?

Disable desktop icon auto-arrange/snap-to-grid and make sure “Allow themes to change desktop icons” is unchecked, but if the layout still resets, the thread suggests some cleanup or startup software is interfering with Explorer [#18211524][#18217891] One reply warns that CCleaner may be deleting desktop.ini or other saved desktop settings, which can make Windows forget icon placement after reboots or resolution changes [#18212796] The most concrete fix given was to uninstall Avira Phantom VPN, Avira Privacy Pal, and Avira System Speedup, then run an FRST fixlist to remove their Run/Winlogon entries, especially the Avira System Speedup starter in the shell [#18220962][#18220982] If you only need a workaround, save and restore the desktop layout with DesktopOK or ReIcon [#18211524]
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  • #1 18211479
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    Hello.
    My blood is about to flood. Each time the computer restarts, the icons change position. What's up and how to fix it. The system (windows7) has recently been reworked.
    I thought it might be a matter of wallpaper, or maybe something on the desktop like sticky notes - but no.

    The problem is fixed after using CCleaner - but after a few reboots, the same will happen again :(

    Does anyone know any solution?


    aaaaaaa
    One more thing. Why, when I put the computer to sleep, after waking up, the monitor does not wake up and the orange LED blinks (and it should be constantly blue). I recently replaced my graphics card with a new one but the problem is still the same. Is the monitor screwing up?

    Thanks and regards
    BT
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  • #2 18211524
    Kolobos
    IT specialist  
    Posts: 85152
    Help: 17159
    Rate: 10421
    Uncheck the snap to grid in the icon options, that should help. Alternatively, install DesktopOK and restore.
  • #3 18211529
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    Aligning the icons according to the grid did not help and after rebooting it is automatically turned on again :(

    Added after 8 [hours] 32 [minutes]:

    And what no one knows the answers to my bothering questions?
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  • #4 18212531
    RADU23
    VIP Meritorious for electroda.pl  
    Posts: 20712
    Help: 2425
    Rate: 1726
    "Auto-Arrange Icons" is disabled?
  • #5 18212722
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    Off. Off.
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  • #6 18212796
    g107r
    Level 41  
    Posts: 5240
    Help: 807
    Rate: 977
    Was it working properly before changing the card?
    And it didn't change the position of the icons?
    One thing that comes to mind is you delete the / and desktop.ini file, maybe with CCleaner, which probably has a few options.
    It also cleans the system of your settings. Runs in the background, doing some sort of shutdown - cleaning something?

    Second, the graphics card changes the resolution - here a few times, after a sudden something, the game now knows what, because I don't remember, but it turned out that after changing the resolution from the standard 1400 to 900, to a lower resolution, when the icons did not fit on the desktop, e.g. 800 on 600, windows grouped the icons by itself, and after returning to the "normal" resolution of the monitor, sometimes it forgot to restore my desktop icon settings.
    tr000tyl wrote:
    Why, when I put the computer to sleep, after waking up, the monitor does not wake up and the orange LED blinks (and it should be constantly blue).

    And something "darkens" for you ...
    Did you uninstall the drivers from the old card, swapped the cards, and installed the new ones issued with the new card?
  • #7 18212999
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    At the beginning, when I changed the card, it was ok.
    After a while the desktop became fixated.
    I have uninstalled CCleaner.

    The card does not change the resolution - I did not note it anyway.

    Regarding not waking up the monitor.
    I have the latest drivers. This was also the case with the old card.
  • #8 18216436
    Kolobos
    IT specialist  
    Posts: 85152
    Help: 17159
    Rate: 10421
    Do your open windows shrink together with the layout of the icons?
  • #9 18217241
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    Do windows shrink? What do you mean? I have strange things happening with files in folders. Each time I change their appearance, after re-entering the same folder, they return to their original appearance, i.e. details.
  • #10 18217308
    Kolobos
    IT specialist  
    Posts: 85152
    Help: 17159
    Rate: 10421
    Include in the attachment logs from FRST, from the scan (addition.txt and frst.txt).
  • #11 18217891
    Robert B
    Level 43  
    Posts: 22594
    Help: 2027
    Rate: 1412
    Also, make sure you don't have the option to allow themes to change desktop icons. Often this also affects their arrangement.
  • #12 18220808
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    I don't have the "allow themes to change desktop icons" option checked and these france are moving around.
    What is FRST logs ???

    I downloaded the ReIcon application but the icons move anyway. After turning on the desktop, they are as I want but literally after 1 second they go to the left side of the screen :( What a crap.
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  • #14 18220855
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    What data can I show and what not? Because there is probably a lot of data there.
  • #15 18220863
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #16 18220872
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    You're welcome. Attached.
    Attachments:
    • FRST.txt (177.14 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
    • Addition.txt (39.19 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • #17 18220962
    Kolobos
    IT specialist  
    Posts: 85152
    Help: 17159
    Rate: 10421
    Odinstaluj:
    Avira Phantom VPN
    Avira Privacy Pal
    Avira System Speedup

    Wykonaj Fixlist.txt dla FRST:
    HKLM\...\Run: [] => [X]
    HKLM-x32\...\Run: [Avira System Speedup User Starter] => C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\System Speedup\Avira.SystemSpeedup.Core.Common.Starter.exe [331016 2019-09-04] (Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG -> Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG)
    HKLM-x32\...\Run: [] => [X]
    HKU\S-1-5-21-3024515163-4284053528-3013144878-1001\...\Winlogon: [Shell] C:\Windows\explorer.exe [3229696 2016-08-29] (Microsoft Windows -> Microsoft Corporation) C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\System Speedup\Avira.SystemSpeedup.Core.Common.Starter.exe [331016 2019-09-04] (Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG -> Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG)
    Task: {8EF4EA80-DE31-423E-A824-1DB3E7528EA3} - System32\Tasks\klcp_update => C:\Program Files (x86)\K-Lite Codec Pack\Tools\CodecTweakTool.exe [1723392 2019-08-27] () [Brak podpisu cyfrowego]
    Task: {94A6588E-77A0-45CB-BA8A-D338F7CF8105} - System32\Tasks\AviraSystemSpeedupUpdate => C:\ProgramData\Avira\SystemSpeedup\Update\avira_speedup_setup_update.exe [26062808 2019-09-07] (Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG -> Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG )
    CHR HKLM\...\Chrome\Extension: [caljgklbbfbcjjanaijlacgncafpegll] - hxxps://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
    CHR HKLM\...\Chrome\Extension: [ccbpbkebodcjkknkfkpmfeciinhidaeh] - hxxps://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
    CHR HKLM-x32\...\Chrome\Extension: [caljgklbbfbcjjanaijlacgncafpegll] - hxxps://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
    CHR HKLM-x32\...\Chrome\Extension: [ccbpbkebodcjkknkfkpmfeciinhidaeh] - hxxps://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx
  • #18 18220982
    Anonymous
    Level 1  
  • #19 18225581
    tr000tyl
    Level 9  
    Posts: 61
    Rate: 12
    Nothing helped :(
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion revolves around a user experiencing issues with desktop icons rearranging after rebooting a Windows 7 system. Despite attempts to resolve the problem by unchecking "snap to grid" and disabling "auto-arrange icons," the icons continue to shift positions. The user also reports that the issue temporarily resolves after using CCleaner but recurs after several reboots. Additional concerns include the monitor not waking up from sleep mode, which persists even after replacing the graphics card. Suggestions from other users include checking for theme settings that may affect icon arrangement, ensuring the graphics card drivers are properly installed, and using tools like DesktopOK and ReIcon to manage icon positions. The user has also been advised to scan for potential system inconsistencies using FRST logs and to uninstall certain software that may interfere with system settings.
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FAQ

TL;DR: Windows 7 desktop icons can jump left within 1 second after logon; "Uncheck the snap to grid in the icon options, that should help." Use a layout saver, verify settings, and remove utilities that reset Explorer. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18211524]

Why it matters: For Windows users with "wandering" desktop icons, this FAQ shows fast fixes and when to escalate diagnostics.

Quick Facts

Why do my Windows 7 desktop icons move after reboot or login?

Snap to Grid or a layout reset can push icons left at logon. Disable Snap to Grid in the View menu. Then use DesktopOK to save and restore your preferred layout. This combo often stops shuffling after restarts. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18211524]

How do I stop icons from auto-aligning to the left?

Right-click the desktop, choose View, and uncheck Auto-Arrange Icons. Keep Align to grid optional. “Auto-Arrange Icons is disabled?” should be your first check. Place icons, then restart to confirm stability. [Elektroda, RADU23, post #18212531]

Align to grid keeps turning itself on—how do I prevent that?

If Align to grid re-enables after reboot, check cleaners and startup tools. Some utilities reset Explorer view settings. Remove or adjust them, then set your layout again. CCleaner interactions and desktop.ini deletion were flagged as risks. [Elektroda, g107r, post #18212796]

Can themes change my desktop icons or their arrangement?

Yes. Open Desktop Icon Settings and uncheck “Allow themes to change desktop icons.” This prevents theme changes from overwriting icon choices or positions. [Elektroda, Robert B, post #18217891]

Do tools like DesktopOK or ReIcon actually fix icon wandering?

They restore your saved layout but don’t remove root causes. If another process re-sorts icons after logon, icons may jump back. One user saw icons snap left within one second despite ReIcon. Use these tools alongside fixing settings or startup tasks. [Elektroda, tr000tyl, post #18220808]

My folder view keeps reverting to Details—how can I save it?

Persistent view resets suggest a broader shell or profile issue. Capture diagnostics to spot startups or shell extensions changing defaults. “Include in the attachment logs from FRST, from the scan (addition.txt and frst.txt).” Share them for guided remediation. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18217308]

Could a temporary resolution change cause icons to move?

Yes. A brief drop to a lower resolution can force icons to reflow. Example: switching to 800×600 from a wider 1400 layout. Windows may not fully restore positions after returning to normal. Check GPU drivers and apps that modify resolution. [Elektroda, g107r, post #18212796]

Could CCleaner or Avira System Speedup be causing this?

Yes. Cleanup and “speedup” tools can alter shell settings and run at startup. Uninstall Avira System Speedup and related components. Remove their scheduled tasks, then test icon stability after reboots. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18220962]

How do I capture and restore an icon layout quickly?

Use a layout saver. 1. Install DesktopOK. 2. Arrange icons and click Save to snapshot the layout. 3. After a shuffle, open DesktopOK and use Restore to revert positions. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18211524]

What is FRST and why was I asked for logs?

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool collects system and startup details for troubleshooting. It produces two files: FRST.txt and Addition.txt. Experts review them to spot entries that reset Explorer or display settings. Share both logs to guide the next steps. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18217308]

After sleep, my monitor LED stays orange and won’t wake—what should I try?

If updating drivers and replacing the GPU didn’t help, suspect monitor or power policies. Test another cable or display. Disable sleep temporarily to scope the issue. Then adjust power settings or the monitor’s firmware options. [Elektroda, tr000tyl, post #18212999]

Do shrinking window sizes relate to icons moving?

Yes. If windows shrink along with icon changes, suspect a resolution or DPI switch. That points to display changes rather than only desktop settings. Check for resolution shifts during startup. [Elektroda, Kolobos, post #18216436]

What files or settings can a cleaner remove that affect icon positions?

Deleting desktop.ini or related view caches can reset folder and icon views. Cleaners or background optimizers may apply those changes each reboot. Pause or uninstall them, then reconfigure your desktop and folder views. [Elektroda, g107r, post #18212796]

What if icons still shift immediately after logon—what’s the edge case?

A startup entry can re-apply View settings right after Explorer loads. That triggers an immediate snap-left effect. Identify and remove the offending task or extension, then retest with a layout saver. [Elektroda, tr000tyl, post #18220808]
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