Desktop Icon Placement Problem

My wife's PC vertically aligns all icons on the left side of the desktop (2
columns). She can move icons up or down within the columns or between columns
- but she cannot place them anywhere else on the desktop.

My PC lets me move icons anywhere I want on the desktop.

We both have Dell Inspiron laptops using Windows Vista Home Premium.

How can I make her PC work like mine and allow icon placement?

Right click Desktop > select View > uncheck 'Align to Grid'.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
news:A1336389-F757-4E58-8473-...
> My wife's PC vertically aligns all icons on the left side of the desktop
> (2
> columns). She can move icons up or down within the columns or between
> columns
> - but she cannot place them anywhere else on the desktop.
>
> My PC lets me move icons anywhere I want on the desktop.
>
> We both have Dell Inspiron laptops using Windows Vista Home Premium.
>
> How can I make her PC work like mine and allow icon placement?

Sounds as if she has turned on auto-arrange on the desktop. Turning it off
(right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View, then un-check Auto
Arrange) should resolve the issue.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
news:A1336389-F757-4E58-8473-...
> My wife's PC vertically aligns all icons on the left side of the desktop
> (2
> columns). She can move icons up or down within the columns or between
> columns
> - but she cannot place them anywhere else on the desktop.
>
> My PC lets me move icons anywhere I want on the desktop.
>
> We both have Dell Inspiron laptops using Windows Vista Home Premium.
>
> How can I make her PC work like mine and allow icon placement?

Turning off Auto Arrange solved the problem. Turning off Align to Grid did
not solve the problem.
Thanks Richard!

"Richard G. Harper" wrote:

> Sounds as if she has turned on auto-arrange on the desktop. Turning it off
> (right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View, then un-check Auto
> Arrange) should resolve the issue.
>
> --
> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
> * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>
>
> "mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
> news:A1336389-F757-4E58-8473-...
> > My wife's PC vertically aligns all icons on the left side of the desktop
> > (2
> > columns). She can move icons up or down within the columns or between
> > columns
> > - but she cannot place them anywhere else on the desktop.
> >
> > My PC lets me move icons anywhere I want on the desktop.
> >
> > We both have Dell Inspiron laptops using Windows Vista Home Premium.
> >
> > How can I make her PC work like mine and allow icon placement?
>
>

I know, I said the wrong thing, I really meant Auto Arrange.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
news:5590EED9-D160-435E-8974-...
> Turning off Auto Arrange solved the problem. Turning off Align to Grid did
> not solve the problem.
> Thanks Richard!
>
> "Richard G. Harper" wrote:
>
>> Sounds as if she has turned on auto-arrange on the desktop. Turning it
>> off
>> (right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View, then un-check
>> Auto
>> Arrange) should resolve the issue.
>>
>> --
>> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
>> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
>> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
>> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
>> * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
>> news:A1336389-F757-4E58-8473-...
>> > My wife's PC vertically aligns all icons on the left side of the
>> > desktop
>> > (2
>> > columns). She can move icons up or down within the columns or between
>> > columns
>> > - but she cannot place them anywhere else on the desktop.
>> >
>> > My PC lets me move icons anywhere I want on the desktop.
>> >
>> > We both have Dell Inspiron laptops using Windows Vista Home Premium.
>> >
>> > How can I make her PC work like mine and allow icon placement?
>>
>>

You're entirely welcome.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
news:5590EED9-D160-435E-8974-...
> Turning off Auto Arrange solved the problem. Turning off Align to Grid did
> not solve the problem.
> Thanks Richard!
>
> "Richard G. Harper" wrote:
>
>> Sounds as if she has turned on auto-arrange on the desktop. Turning it
>> off
>> (right-click an empty part of the desktop, select View, then un-check
>> Auto
>> Arrange) should resolve the issue.
>>
>> --
>> Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
>> * NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
>> * PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
>> * The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
>> * HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>>
>>
>> "mudpuppy" <> wrote in message
>> news:A1336389-F757-4E58-8473-...
>> > My wife's PC vertically aligns all icons on the left side of the
>> > desktop
>> > (2
>> > columns). She can move icons up or down within the columns or between
>> > columns
>> > - but she cannot place them anywhere else on the desktop.
>> >
>> > My PC lets me move icons anywhere I want on the desktop.
>> >
>> > We both have Dell Inspiron laptops using Windows Vista Home Premium.
>> >
>> > How can I make her PC work like mine and allow icon placement?
>>
>>