Desktop Icons rearraning themselves after remote login

[Homerboy]

Like many I have the ability to log into my work desktop (win XP) from home.
Like most I have a bunch of icons on my desktop, placed in a certain arrangement that I have grown acustomed to.

However, whenever I log into my work desktop from home (or elsewhere for that matter), it automatically re-arranges all my desktop icons to the left margin, arranged in columns (auto arrange and snap to grid end up being checked)

Does anyone have any idea how to stop this behavior? It's a pain in the butt.

Thanks in advance.

 

[stlcardinals]

Make sure that you are using the same resolution setting in Remote Desktop that your work computer is using. I don't know if it will keep it from rearranging your icons or not, but it's a place to start.

You can also try running Remote Desktop in console mode.

If you are on XP, in the run box type mstsc /console

If you are on Vista\7, in the run box type mstsc /admin

 

[gsaldivar]

http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

I use this.

 

[Homerboy]

Make sure that you are using the same resolution setting in Remote Desktop that your work computer is using. I don't know if it will keep it from rearranging your icons or not, but it's a place to start.

You can also try running Remote Desktop in console mode.

If you are on XP, in the run box type mstsc /console

If you are on Vista\7, in the run box type mstsc /admin

ahhhhhhhhhhh! Resolution! I bet that's the culprit D-uh!
Always the simplest things.

 

[Homerboy]

http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html

I use this.

Brilliant.
Since I can't run the same resolutions (as diagnosed above) this will come in handy!
Thanks!

 

[corkyg]

http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_restore.html I use this.

Same here. Just live with it and use Icon Restore to save your layout. Whenever they get moved (as when resolution changes, i.e., Safe Mode, or new video drivers, just right click on My Computer and click Restore Icons. Been using it since Win 95!

 

[bruceb]

There are different types of user profiles.
What you need is for your LAN Administrator to do
is change your User Accout to a Roaming Profile

Types of user profiles include:

A local user profile, which is created the first time you log on to a computer and is stored on a computer's local hard disk. Any changes made to your local user profile will be specific to the computer in which you made the changes.

A roaming user profile, which is created by your system administrator and is stored on a server. This profile is available every time you log on to any computer on the network. Any changes made to your roaming user profile will be updated on the server.

A mandatory user profile, which is a roaming profiles that can be used to specify particular settings for individuals or an entire group of users. Only system administrators can make changes to mandatory user profiles.

 

[Homerboy]

There are different types of user profiles.
What you need is for your LAN Administrator to do
is change your User Accout to a Roaming Profile

Types of user profiles include:

A local user profile, which is created the first time you log on to a computer and is stored on a computer's local hard disk. Any changes made to your local user profile will be specific to the computer in which you made the changes.

A roaming user profile, which is created by your system administrator and is stored on a server. This profile is available every time you log on to any computer on the network. Any changes made to your roaming user profile will be updated on the server.

A mandatory user profile, which is a roaming profiles that can be used to specify particular settings for individuals or an entire group of users. Only system administrators can make changes to mandatory user profiles.

Techincally speaking though I am logging into my exact same machine (this isn't a Terminal Server login or anything) with the same user ID/credentials as if I was sitting at my desk. I don't think the type of profile would matter then would it?

 

[bruceb]

Not sure. Easiest way is to get a hold of your IT dept and ask them. Try the roaming profile and see what happens. Since you are remote accessing the pc I think that would still be affected by roaming profile. The only other way to do it, would be to create another user account on your home computer you use for work access. Then copy your work desktop and profile to that account and try it. It can also be as simple as
needing to use the same screen resolution at home as on the work pc.

 

[AlucardX]

Not sure. Easiest way is to get a hold of your IT dept and ask them. Try the roaming profile and see what happens. Since you are remote accessing the pc I think that would still be affected by roaming profile. The only other way to do it, would be to create another user account on your home computer you use for work access. Then copy your work desktop and profile to that account and try it. It can also be as simple as
needing to use the same screen resolution at home as on the work pc.

i think you're misunderstanding the problem. this has nothing to do with roaming profiles or his work windows account.

this is about the long standing issue (finally fixed in Win 7) about when changing resolution (which remote desktop can do) of the source machine, when going back to other resolution the icons don't go back to where they were. microsoft likes to assume people always keep their icons going down in columns starting in the upper left.

 

[bruceb]

You may be correct. I did mention in my last post to try using the same resolution at home as he does at work. Preferably same physical screen size (if possible)

 

[dawks]

The user profile post has nothing to do with this problem. The issue is that Windows forgets the location of icons when the screen resolution is changed.

The only way to help this problem with profiles is to use two different profiles. One for one resolution, and one for another resolution. But thats just silly since your settings would be different in each profile, as would your documents, programs.. etc.

The problem is solved with icon restore link.