I can't sort desktop icons the way I want.

I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can not
sort/arrange the way I want.

I wish them to be sorted by name.

That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
find/use.

But they do not work the way they did in XP

For instance.
Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places itself
after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my Financial
links.
so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)

Kodak shortcut to program
Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
CNN (folder for news links)

Then there is a second column of shortcuts
And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder

So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)

Why? and how can I fix this?

This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from XP
era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.

please and thank you.

Did you un-check "auto arrange" option (right click the desk top and uncheck
the option on the right-click menu). The type of icons (whether XP or Vista
style) shouldn't make a difference.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...windows-vista/

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-genera...der-issue.html

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_10...sageID=2626411

Three solutions above seem to relate to your problem (arranging desktop
icons and getting the settings to save), let us know what works for you.

Otherwise, Google "Save arrange desktop icon settings in Windows Vista"

This lists a few ideas, but these results seem to be for third-party
products that focus on arranging & saving the settings for your desktop icon
arrangements:
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Sa...ient=firefox-a



"FireBrick" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can
> not sort/arrange the way I want.
>
> I wish them to be sorted by name.
>
> That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
> find/use.
>
> But they do not work the way they did in XP
>
> For instance.
> Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places itself
> after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my
> Financial links.
> so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)
>
> Kodak shortcut to program
> Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
> Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
> Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
> CNN (folder for news links)
>
> Then there is a second column of shortcuts
> And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder
>
> So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)
>
> Why? and how can I fix this?
>
> This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from XP
> era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.
>
> please and thank you.
>
>

Yes I should have said that Auto Arrange was unchecked

It makes no difference Auto or not.
Arranging by name results in two and a half columns

the first (farthest to left) is sorted by name
The second and partial third are sorted by name.


"Andrew Murray" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Did you un-check "auto arrange" option (right click the desk top and
> uncheck the option on the right-click menu). The type of icons (whether
> XP or Vista style) shouldn't make a difference.
>
> http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...windows-vista/
>
> http://www.vistax64.com/vista-genera...der-issue.html
>
> http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_10...sageID=2626411
>
> Three solutions above seem to relate to your problem (arranging desktop
> icons and getting the settings to save), let us know what works for you.
>
> Otherwise, Google "Save arrange desktop icon settings in Windows Vista"
>
> This lists a few ideas, but these results seem to be for third-party
> products that focus on arranging & saving the settings for your desktop
> icon arrangements:
> http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Sa...ient=firefox-a
>
>
>
> "FireBrick" <> wrote in message
> news:#...
>> I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can
>> not sort/arrange the way I want.
>>
>> I wish them to be sorted by name.
>>
>> That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
>> find/use.
>>
>> But they do not work the way they did in XP
>>
>> For instance.
>> Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places
>> itself after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my
>> Financial links.
>> so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)
>>
>> Kodak shortcut to program
>> Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
>> Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
>> Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
>> CNN (folder for news links)
>>
>> Then there is a second column of shortcuts
>> And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder
>>
>> So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)
>>
>> Why? and how can I fix this?
>>
>> This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from
>> XP era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.
>>
>> please and thank you.
>>
>>

Have it set "Align toGrid"
Then you can drag them to where you want them.
--
Mad Mike


"FireBrick" wrote:

> Yes I should have said that Auto Arrange was unchecked
>
> It makes no difference Auto or not.
> Arranging by name results in two and a half columns
>
> the first (farthest to left) is sorted by name
> The second and partial third are sorted by name.
>
>
> "Andrew Murray" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > Did you un-check "auto arrange" option (right click the desk top and
> > uncheck the option on the right-click menu). The type of icons (whether
> > XP or Vista style) shouldn't make a difference.
> >
> > http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...windows-vista/
> >
> > http://www.vistax64.com/vista-genera...der-issue.html
> >
> > http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12546_10...sageID=2626411
> >
> > Three solutions above seem to relate to your problem (arranging desktop
> > icons and getting the settings to save), let us know what works for you.
> >
> > Otherwise, Google "Save arrange desktop icon settings in Windows Vista"
> >
> > This lists a few ideas, but these results seem to be for third-party
> > products that focus on arranging & saving the settings for your desktop
> > icon arrangements:
> > http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Sa...ient=firefox-a
> >
> >
> >
> > "FireBrick" <> wrote in message
> > news:#...
> >> I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can
> >> not sort/arrange the way I want.
> >>
> >> I wish them to be sorted by name.
> >>
> >> That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
> >> find/use.
> >>
> >> But they do not work the way they did in XP
> >>
> >> For instance.
> >> Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places
> >> itself after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my
> >> Financial links.
> >> so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)
> >>
> >> Kodak shortcut to program
> >> Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
> >> Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
> >> Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
> >> CNN (folder for news links)
> >>
> >> Then there is a second column of shortcuts
> >> And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder
> >>
> >> So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)
> >>
> >> Why? and how can I fix this?
> >>
> >> This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from
> >> XP era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.
> >>
> >> please and thank you.
> >>
> >>
>
>

The reason your icons appear that way is because there are two groups of
icons, the public group at the left which is available to every user on the
computer and the current user's group which appears to the right of the
public group. If you sort by name, both groups will be sorted but kept
separate.

Tyro

"FireBrick" <> wrote in message
news:#...
> I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can
> not sort/arrange the way I want.
>
> I wish them to be sorted by name.
>
> That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
> find/use.
>
> But they do not work the way they did in XP
>
> For instance.
> Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places itself
> after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my
> Financial links.
> so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)
>
> Kodak shortcut to program
> Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
> Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
> Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
> CNN (folder for news links)
>
> Then there is a second column of shortcuts
> And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder
>
> So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)
>
> Why? and how can I fix this?
>
> This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from XP
> era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.
>
> please and thank you.
>
>

That explains it.

Now while your on a roll, how do I combine them into just one 'group'.

Public is fine as I'm the only user of this computer.


"Tyro" <> wrote in message
news:e85bl.14119$...
> The reason your icons appear that way is because there are two groups of
> icons, the public group at the left which is available to every user on
> the computer and the current user's group which appears to the right of
> the public group. If you sort by name, both groups will be sorted but kept
> separate.
>
> Tyro
>
> "FireBrick" <> wrote in message
> news:#...
>> I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can
>> not sort/arrange the way I want.
>>
>> I wish them to be sorted by name.
>>
>> That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
>> find/use.
>>
>> But they do not work the way they did in XP
>>
>> For instance.
>> Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places
>> itself after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my
>> Financial links.
>> so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)
>>
>> Kodak shortcut to program
>> Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
>> Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
>> Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
>> CNN (folder for news links)
>>
>> Then there is a second column of shortcuts
>> And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder
>>
>> So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)
>>
>> Why? and how can I fix this?
>>
>> This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from
>> XP era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.
>>
>> please and thank you.
>>
>>

This worked. I went to public>desktop, copied all the desktop items and
pasted them in User>Me>desktop
now they are all arranged alphabetically as I wanted.

Thank you and owe you a beer or wine, or if your not old enough...maybe a
juice box.




"FireBrick" <> wrote in message
news:OhXi$...
> That explains it.
>
> Now while your on a roll, how do I combine them into just one 'group'.
>
> Public is fine as I'm the only user of this computer.
>
>
> "Tyro" <> wrote in message
> news:e85bl.14119$...
>> The reason your icons appear that way is because there are two groups of
>> icons, the public group at the left which is available to every user on
>> the computer and the current user's group which appears to the right of
>> the public group. If you sort by name, both groups will be sorted but
>> kept separate.
>>
>> Tyro
>>
>> "FireBrick" <> wrote in message
>> news:#...
>>> I have placed or software has created some desktop icons that I just can
>>> not sort/arrange the way I want.
>>>
>>> I wish them to be sorted by name.
>>>
>>> That way some icons/Shortcuts would be in a location that's easiest to
>>> find/use.
>>>
>>> But they do not work the way they did in XP
>>>
>>> For instance.
>>> Weatherlink, icon (shortcut to the program of the same name) places
>>> itself after Paint Shop Pro and before a icon for a Folder containing my
>>> Financial links.
>>> so I see (just an example, there are two 1/2 columns of icons.)
>>>
>>> Kodak shortcut to program
>>> Paint Shop Pro shortcut to program
>>> Weatherlink shortcut to Weatherlink program
>>> Financial (folder for Banks/Credit card shortcuts)
>>> CNN (folder for news links)
>>>
>>> Then there is a second column of shortcuts
>>> And they are in aphabetical order, no matter whether shortcut of folder
>>>
>>> So basically, both columns are in their own order by name, (sort of)
>>>
>>> Why? and how can I fix this?
>>>
>>> This was a xp machine, upgraded to vista, some of those icons were from
>>> XP era, and some are from installed after Vista upgrade.
>>>
>>> please and thank you.
>>>
>>>
>