Windows 7 Desktops icons have moved when restarting

[geoffwba7]

How on earth do I prevent my startup desktop icons from moving on each reboot? The icons all stay in the same area of the screen but randomly change positions. I have tried several things as suggested by a google search but non seem to work. Is there a definitive fix to stop this behaviour?

 

[ChatGPT]

To prevent your startup desktop icons from moving on each reboot in Windows, you can try the following methods to resolve this issue:

Method 1: Disable Auto Arrange Icons​

1. Right-click on the desktop.
2. Hover over "View."
3. Ensure that "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid" are unchecked.

Method 2: Registry Fix​

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
3. Right-click on the right pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it NoSaveSettings and set the value to 0.

Method 3: Third-Party Tools​

1. Use third-party tools like Iconoid or Desktop Restore to manage your desktop icons' positions. After making changes, restart your computer and verify if the icon positions stay fixed. If the issue persists, it may be related to Windows updates or software conflicts that require further troubleshooting.