Monroe

Thanks tomasz86 for your input. I was also thinking about AVG or Avast early today when I came across this article about the 9 Best Free Antivirus Programs and the MS Microsoft Security Essentials was number three on the list. I was searching for input on the best free antivirus programs for Windows XP. Microsoft Security Essentials Security Essentials from Microsoft is definitely one of the best free antivirus programs available right now. Microsoft is relatively new to the antivirus game but don't let that scare you - Security Essentials is a fantastic antivirus program that protects you from all sorts of malware, updates automatically and is incredibly easy to use. Microsoft Security Essentials supports Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP. Two of the biggest reasons I added Microsoft Security Essentials to this list of the best free antivirus software is because it's directly from Microsoft and also because it's very easy to see if you're computer is secure from threats: if the icon next to your clock is green, you're in good; if it's red, something is wrong. The Bottom Line Microsoft Security Essentials is easily one of the best free antivirus program available. I like it because it's produced by Microsoft and because it's really easy to see if the program is protecting you as it should be. Important: Microsoft Security Essentials provides constant virus protection, also called on-access or resident protection, for free. This means that Microsoft Security Essentials can completely replace antivirus software from companies like McAfee and Norton that charge for their software and for yearly access to updates. Pros * Provides resident protection from viruses, spyware and other malware * Works with Windows 7, Vista, and XP * Virus definitions are updated automatically and regularly * Very easy to install * Does not attempt to install unrelated software Cons * Does not include a silent mode (so you might be bothered during gaming) Description * Microsoft Security Essentials includes fully functional engines to guard against viruses and most other kinds of malware. * Includes a very easy to use on-demand scanner for manual malware checks. * Windows 7, Vista, and XP are all supported operating systems for Microsoft Security Essentials. * Simple green/red indicator makes it very easy to see if you're protected. * Microsoft Security Essentials updates regularly to keep its malware knowledge current. Guide Review - Microsoft Security Essentials Security Essentials is Microsoft's first attempt at an antivirus program, free or otherwise. My take: they did an excellent job. It was super easy to install and even easier to understand and use. Microsoft Security Essentials even trumps most of the popular, expensive antivirus options out there. ... here's the link to the whole article. 9 Best Free Antivirus Programs http://freebies.about.com/od/computerfreebies/tp/best-free-antivirus.htm ... I normally don't have an antivirus program installed ... don't like them "running" all the time ... I decided to go with the Kaspersky Rescue CD ... it was just updated on June 3rd ... yesterday ... Download FREE Bootable Rescue CDs from Kaspersky, BitDefender, AVG, Avira, F-Secure, VIPRE, Panda and Dr.Web Antivirus http://www.askvg.com/download-free-bootable-rescue-cds-from-kaspersky-bitdefender-avira-f-secure-and-others/ Kaspersky Rescue CD: Kaspersky is one of the best anti-virus company and now its providing a rescue CD absolutely free which contains the latest Kaspersky anti-virus. So you can scan your system by booting your system using Kaspersky rescue CD. File: kav_rescue_10.iso 268526 KB 6/3/2012 9:01:00 AM ...

Well I have gotten to the stage of putting some Windows updates on my XP setup and also I see there is Windows Media Player 11 available. Just like to know if it would be wise to go with WMP 11 or stay with WMP 9 or 10. I mainly use KMPlayer but I would like a version of WMP also on the machine, which for now is WMP 9. What about the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool May 2012 ... a good download or something to avoid? Also, what about this Microsoft Security Essentials? Have not put any of those updates on my setup yet, probably very hard to remove if it's a mistake ... just like some input on what MS programs not to put on through Windows Update. I have not put any versions .NET Framework on my system ... if you have it installed, how high a version should I go ... think I saw version 4.5 at the update site ... or just leave it off completely. I know there are some software programs that require .NET Framework to be installed but I usually can search around for a similar program that doesn't need .NET Framework to work. thanks ...

OK ... I tried the Layout.DLL settings that you supplied ... I just don't like the Align to Grid spacing ... my settings are slimmer and smaller which is what I want. It will probably work for others ... I have been working with Iconoid on a second computer and I am satisfied with the program. Every reboot has the icons in the proper order ... it adjusts them (if needed) on the startup of Windows, with no input from me ... except for the initial setup. I will sign off on this thread I guess but keep reading and searching for something that just might be a little better. thanks all ...

I came across an old program that I had forgotten about from several years back, while searching around earlier today ... Iconoid . I downloaded a newer version and now seem to like the program. It has so many different settings and can put the Desktop icons back in order at startup ... it can make the icons disappear after so many seconds, if you just want a clean desktop view. It's not the fix that I was after but it's very close, it'll do for now. I will keep searching. Iconoid 3.8.6 Iconoid (32 bit) will run on Windows 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. Note: 2000 systems should use 3.8.5. Pre-XP systems should use 3.7.0. http://majorgeeks.com/Iconoid_d723.html http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/take-full-control-over-your-windows-desktop-icons-with-iconoid/ ... it's an interesting program.

OK ... I have been trying more ideas from the web ... searching around on Google I am amazed at how many others are looking for a solution for Desktop icons staying in place, all the way into Windows 7. I can't understand why MS has never fixed this annoying problem or offered a simple solution that works for the masses. Anyway ... PROBLEMCHYLD, I have LAYOUT.DLL installed and will give it a try. When you posted your information, I had just found that info about deleting "nosavesettings" from the registry and that would solve the problem. Out of the four registry entries that were listed, I found the "nosavesettings" DWORD in two of them on all four of my notebooks ... three Thinkpads with XP and one Dell (P3) with Windows 2000. I had no idea the registry settings would just automatically come back ... again on Google yesterday, I saw hundreds of questions dealing with "nosavesettings" always coming back after being deleted. .... getting back to your post PROBLEMCHYLD ... I was hesitant to follow your instructions because a few days before I decided to see what Align to Grid would actually do. I like my Desktop icons small so that I only have two columns on the left side of my screen and not three or four. When I hit "Align to Grid", the icons changed (as I remember) and I could not get them back to the exact way I had them ... worked with everything for some time and finally just gave up and used my Ghost backup to get things fixed. I will try it again to see what changes again.These are the settings that I use for my Desktop icons ... Icon size: 17 ... Font size: 7 ... Icon Spacing (Hor): 55 ... Icon Spacing (Ver): 45 densorso, the "nosavesettings" always seem to come back at this entry: HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions ... nosavesettings 0x00000000 (0) . So you say (0) is OK ... but why when something is deleted, OK or not ... does it come back? I sort of "joked around" earlier about a "hidden registry" backup somewhere in XP that will prevent certain registry items from ever being deleted. Could there really be a hidden registry somewhere replacing certain items if they are deleted? This just seems so complicated, people just simply wanting their Desktop icons to remain in the order that they would like them to be, day after day ... month after month. I also tried your instructions for Desktop Restore and it didn't seem to work for me, I also said I moved a few icons around to see if they would go back into place after a reboot, they did not. I will try it again later, maybe I missed something. Perhaps it's because I have my icons smaller with the column Hor and Ver adjustments. I just like a smaller, tighter column of icons. Must be a simple desktop lock or something somewhere ... and old forgotten program. I had deleted that registry entry again before I got online ... just checked the registry again, as I'm typing this, and it was back once more. I will just forget about it and accept the fact that it cannot be deleted ... if a 0 is OK then so be it ... but I am going to continue to search around as to why that registry entry (or others) cannot be permanently deleted. Perhaps it falls under the Windows File Protection (WFP) idea somehow. ... I will also add, from my earlier post dealing with the Prefetch folder ... I put everything back the way I had it and the icons were still rearranging, so there is probably no connection with deleting or not deleting the contents of the Prefetch folder. Was just a coincidence I guess that the icon problem returned when I removed the "delete contents" step from CCleaner. ...

Well the Desktop icon problem is back after two days of no movement ... also the "nosavesettings" DWORD is back in my registry .... as fast as I delete it ... it pops right back in ... I've deleted it seven times and it just keeps coming back. There is one change that I did and maybe those of you who understand XP can explain if there might be a connection. I had been having CCleaner clean out the "Prefetch" folder when I would run it for general cleaning. Then I read where it might be better to let the Prefetch folder alone and it will clean itself out after 128 items build in the folder. As soon as I quit cleaning the Prefetch folder the Desktop icons went back to the exact same order that I don't like. I have no idea where that icon order came from, I never had the Desktop icons in that order. Could there be a connection with the icon problem and the Prefetch folder? If there is a connection, why would the "nosavesettings" DWORD suddenly keep going back into the registry as fast as I delete it? I will put everything back later today, I have no time now ... just went to test the WiFi to make my final Ghost backup and then the icon problem comes back. Is there a "secret registry" backup hidden somewhere in XP that Windows makes and NO changes can ever be made to the registry for "certain" items ... I had hoped the problem was fixed and it seems to be fixed if I can keep the "nosavesettings" out of the registry. How can I take complete control over XP and find the "secret" registry backup or whatever is causing this to occur? I ask that because I just read a few days ago that the reason XP is so large is because there is an exact duplicate of every file, folder ... everything that is hidden in the XP OS on the computer ... if that is indeed true, then there must be an exact copy of the registry somewhere that I will have to find and get the "nosavesettings" out of and then out of the registry that I am able to see. This is getting really murky and sinister ... XP and the hidden XP !!! thanks ...

With help from dencorso in the Windows 2000 forum, I found this small help article early today and applied it to my Windows 2000 notebook and one XP notebook. Everything is staying exactly the way I want things to stay. I'm going this route with all my computers if this fix continues to work over the next few days. I had everything changing on the Windows 2000 notebook and everything is in place since the fix was applied. Solution: Windows Desktop Does Not Save User Customized Settings http://www.askvg.com/solution-windows-desktop-does-not-save-user-customized-settings/ So if you are also facing such problem, then this tutorial will help you in fixing the issue: 1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now check for a DWORD value "NoSaveSettings" in right-side pane under following keys: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions The DWORD value could be present in any of above mentioned locations, most probably in the last one. 2. Once you find the DWORD value, delete it and restart your system. It'll solve your problem and Windows will remember your desktop settings. ...

Thanks ... with something to go on, I found this small help article. I deleted "NoSaveSettings" two times and four problems were solved at once. All windows / folders are not changing and the Desktop icons and the Quick Launch icons are staying in the order that I want. I also think Windows 2000 is working just a little faster ... sure seems to be. Solution: Windows Desktop Does Not Save User Customized Settings http://www.askvg.com/solution-windows-desktop-does-not-save-user-customized-settings/ So if you are also facing such problem, then this tutorial will help you in fixing the issue: 1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now check for a DWORD value "NoSaveSettings" in right-side pane under following keys: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Program Manager\Restrictions The DWORD value could be present in any of above mentioned locations, most probably in the last one. 2. Once you find the DWORD value, delete it and restart your system. It'll solve your problem and Windows will remember your desktop settings. ...

Good tip ... didn't think of that site. Looks like around 3000 Windows 2000 tips ... going to look at each one over the next few days, might find some other helpful information. I've been spending time there over the last month looking at information on XP. thanks

tomasz86 ... also looking forward to your Rollup 2 Update release. If I understand correctly, all past updates will be included in Rollup 2. thanks ...

Just a few days ago I decided to replace Windows 98SE with Windows 2000 Pro on an older Dell Latitude Pentium 3 notebook. Have everything setup OK so far but I can't seem to find a fix or information about one problem. Maybe there is no solution but I would think there must be something. I found a few others asking about the same problem but no real solution was offered. If I can describe this right ... when I click on My Computer or Control Panel, they will open in a large default size window. I adjust them down to a smaller size that I prefer but when I open them again ... it's always back to that larger default size. I have set the size I want many times but it never holds. I searched this forum but found nothing ( No results found for 'adjusting windows 2000 computer default screen size'.) and so far I have not come up with anything on Google. Any help or ideas appreciated. thanks ...

Syclone0044 ... just a few words on my experience over the last month of deciding to leave Windows 98SE for Windows XP Pro. I was also amazed at how much faster my Thinkpad notebooks were running after the change ... I was also very happy that many of the software programs that I had on Windows 98SE were able to run on Windows XP ... it's like I'm still with 98SE in a way ... but there is no mistake in how much faster and better my Thinkpads are working with XP installed. My only regret is that I didn't make the switch sooner, about three years ago, when I bought the Thinkpads. What brought me here today to the Windows 2000 forum is that I have an older Dell Latitude that I had fully intended to keep Windows 98SE installed on but a few days ago I decided to install Windows 2000 Pro on it instead. I have a problem/question that I will be posting shortly when I finish here. So just a few "kind words" about Windows XP that I did have not many years ago. ... I realize this is an old thread but since it sort of came back to life, I thought a few words were in order. ...

Ok ... yes jaclaz, just became aware of DVD Identifier in April ... I think it was mentioned by someone posting at Amazon on the Verbatim DVDs as to which were from factories in India and Thailand. I didn't have time to mention DVD Identifier earlier today. I also didn't have time to get into the Amazon brand DVDs and my experience with them. Last year, they were mostly under $18 all year till late in the year and so far in 2012 the price has been everywhere to as high as $30 / 100 but mostly around $25 ... in Feb (2012) the price dropped below $20 for a short time and I ordered 100 to try them. Most people said they were OK to very good for the price with very few coasters. With the Amazon brand DVDs I bought in Feb ... I found that to be true. I just used them up in the last two weeks and I think I only had one the was bad. In late April the price on the Amazon brand dropped below $22 and I ordered 200 since I had a good experience with the last order. Just started burning them in the last two weeks and my experience with this order is terrible ... just a few days ago, I had five in a row that wouldn't burn or had errors ... Out of about 50 used so far, I'd say about 20 may have been bad or did not finish a complete burn. Just yesterday, I noticed the Amazon brand was below $20 ... still is today when I discovered the Verbatim brand on sale. However, I noticed there were several customer postings over the last seven days complaining of bad burns and many coasters. Perhaps this batch of Amazon DVDs have a problem. I will not buy them anymore myself ... will use the Verbatim brand for now. Also, as someone posted about the Amazon brand ... the DVD is a little "thicker" than most other DVDs, so it might not work in all DVD players or need to be pushed down harder on a spindle to get it to set correctly. I found this to be true, they are somewhat thicker ... I noticed that Verbatim says this about their DVDs: AZO also offers high sensitivity for reliable high-speed recording and high reflectivity to eliminate read errors. The thinness of the recording layer is also critical. The thinner the layer, the higher the sensitivity and power margin; therefore, the better the DVD works for high-speed recording. ... so the Amazon brand DVDs are also on sale but for a little more in price, the Verbatims might be the better deal, if you need some DVDs. ...

Talking about DVDs and some of the better brands ... I am in no way an expert on the best DVDs to buy, just read what others have said or written through the years. I just noticed that Amazon has dropped the price on Verbatim 100 pack DVDs ... this is the Verbatim 95098 product ... Amazon sells another Verbatim DVD also ... Verbatim 97459. I have been trying to find out what the difference is for over an hour on Google and came up with very little information so far ... I have a lot more searching to do, just ran out of time for now. Anyway, I did find an article that isn't too old (Feb 2012) "The 5 Most-Talked-About Optical Discs" and it says this about Verbatium and the two different product numbers. http://www.pcmech.com/article/the-5-most-talked-about-optical-discs/ ... don't know if that link will work but it's correct ... "Aren’t all Verbatim 100-pack DVD+R spindles the same?" No, they’re not. There are many who very specifically seek out the 95098 spindle, meaning not the 97459 and not the 97460. Many people feel that the 95098 is the best DVD+R recordable Verbatim makes. And no there is no price difference between this particular spindle and others by Verbatim; it just happens to be that people like the 95098 the most. .... I did just buy the Verbatium 97459 product from Amazon in early May but the DVDs were listed as being made in Thailand and not India ... that seems to be another story and discussion, what country are the various Verbatium DVDs from. Anyway, the DVDs that were around $29 just yesterday are now $21.99 and they are identified as Verbatim 95098. Both products have the "AZO" dye layer. From the Manufacturer: The Verbatim AZO recording layer gives our DVD media the competitive advantage-the patented coating delivers protection that lasts generations and provides ultimate resistance to UV light damage. That's why Verbatim's been recognized as the No. 1 Optical Brand in the World*--we consistently provide optical media of the highest quality and compatibility. When drive manufacturers test their products for maximum performance, they use Verbatim--so why wouldn't you? Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM), Verbatim's parent company in Japan, brings extensive technological research and development to the table. Core technologies, like the AZO recording layer give Verbatim an offering like no other optical manufacturer. This unique and ultra-stable layer strongly resists UV light, withstands high laser and rotation speeds on newer drives and ensures compatibility with current DVD standards. Verbatim's AZO recording layer not only withstands the extremely high laser and rotation speeds of newer drives, it also maximizes their performance. Verbatim paid particular attention to the durability and light fastness of AZO; tests show that it is more stable than most recording dyes and the least affected by ultraviolet light. AZO also offers high sensitivity for reliable high-speed recording and high reflectivity to eliminate read errors. The thinness of the recording layer is also critical. The thinner the layer, the higher the sensitivity and power margin; therefore, the better the DVD works for high-speed recording. What does all this mean for you? Verbatim AZO technology translates into optical products that cost just a little more but are worth the slight difference. They are products you want-offering reliability, high read and write performance, high-quality photos and sound and superior archival protection that lasts. Features Warranty - Verbatim manufactures our DVDs to meet our strict quality standards. We stand behind the quality of our products-and our Limited Lifetime Warranty proves it! Compatibility - our online reviews say it for us; we make DVDs that work--no coasters! Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM), our parent company, has long-standing relationships with drive manufacturers who use our products to test their performance, making Verbatim DVDs the most compatible in the industry. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009YJXMS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER .... further down the page it go into detail about the AZO layer ... and comments from other buyers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- .... as I said earlier, I only know what I read ... I did just order 200 of these Verbatim 95098 DVDs to test them and see how they will burn. I also have the other 97459 product. They are under $22 as I write this but the price could change anytime. Amazon is like that ... sometimes maybe a day or more or just a few hours till the price changes. If anyone has further knowledge of the various Verbatim DVD products ... like to hear about it. As I mentioned earlier, some have posted that Verbatim DVDs made in Thailand or Asia are better than the ones made in India ... but you don't really know, until you get the shipment, where they were made. Hope this might be somewhat helpful ... if the 95098 is the superior product then this is probably a good deal till the price goes back up in the US ... not sure about Amazon prices in other countries ... I sometimes shop and have ordered from other Amazon sites for hard to find DVDs (films) not for sale in the US but I didn't have time to check blank DVDs prices. ...

OK ... thanks for the screenshots ... I will be experimenting with DR shortly. Update ... OK not sure this is working ... followed all your directions and the old icon pattern (which I hadn't seen for a few days) made an appearance ... but it has not come back. However, I did "purposely" move a few icons out of order then rebooted the computer and the icons were still in that order when the computer fully booted ... they didn't change back to the way I want them ... In your earlier directions when you said "With desktop restore installed plain-vanilla" ... I took that to mean no check marks on the Custom Layout Save/Restore page but in your screen shot there is a check mark in the 2nd box down ... Force Unmatched Icons to be Visible on the Main Screen ... I didn't put any check marks in any of those three boxes but I was wondering if a check mark should be in the third box down : Display Only Custom Menu on Desktop? As you said "plain-vanilla" ... I just installed DR and did a "Save Desktop" and went from there ... everything was clear and went smooth. thanks ...

jaclaz ... you have the "links" to everything. I would have never guessed that someone actually did a study of putting CDs in the microwave. That icon was not a "laughing" icon ... it was meant to be a "state of shock" look. Anyway, I just bought 400 blank DVDs in the last month and then this discussion started about just how long Cds/DVDs will actually last. I've used various brands through the years but have tried to get Verbatum DVDs when I can at a reasonable price and Amazon dropped the price three times below $22 in late April and early May. They are supposed to have "long term" storage but who can say. I should be set for some time with my supply. ...

... 10 minutes in the microwave ! .... good to come back here every so often to get some humor ... the icon is perfect ! ... that would be me if I saw my DVDs in the microwave! ... I have never heard of the M-disk, interesting ... probably out of my price range, can't image anyone interested in Windows 98SE and XP software 100 years from now, but there still might be "one old geezer" around somewhere trying to get on the internet with 98SE or XP. ...

dencorso ... thanks for the "detailed" instructions for setting up Desktop Restore, that's what I needed ... never could have figured that all out. I will probably just continue to work with this program since you recommend it and everything stays in place once it's configured. These little XP "annoyances" are slowly going away, one by one. thanks ...

Thanks Geej for the information on DesktopOK ... I downloaded it and also your DesktopOK233_INF_Addon cab file. I will experiment with them this week-end. So far my desktop icons are holding in place ... they "flicker" a lot but are not shuffling around. The flickering is annoying at times and I will look into that later on to see if that is just a "normal" XP thing ... just happy the icons are staying place. Thanks for clearing that up about "F5" being a Windows Standard thing ... I only have three T series IBM notebooks at hand so I just wasn't sure about other computers. That DesktopOK program looks interesting ... good to have all these programs handy to get to in a hurry. I see it also works with Windows 98. thanks again for the input ...

Understand ... at your convenience and time. I have two computers that are OK, seem to be perfect for that final Ghost backup but the third is "one stubborn computer" ... the desktop icons refuse to stay in the order that I want them. I continue to hit "F5" and they continue to shuffle around. I have all three notbooks set up the same way ... same software, same everything. I will continue being stubborn also and keep putting the icons back to the way I want them ... hopefully the settings will finally "hold" in the next few days or so. ... human vs computer ! ... I 'm not even 100% sure the other two computers are good to go, they seem to be for now ... I hit "F5" and the icons don't shuffle around. I guess after a few weeks I will know better with those two. That "F5" is an IBM thing only for the desktop icon order, don't think that is a standard on all computers, not real sure. thanks ... OK, I just noticed what you did in bringing the "old and newer" threads together in dealing with this subject. I knew about the older thread but it was under "Windows 2000", if I remember correctly, ... and there was a newer one under Windows XP already started ... reading parts of the older thread brings back a few things I didn't completely understand ... working with the command-line version and getting everything fully correct. I will look that over again. Update ... seem to have the third Thinkpad holding the icon order. Worked with putting the icons back in order for about 45 minutes ... did a few reboots and the "F5" key no longer shuffles the icons around. I have "Display Only Custom Menu on Desktop" checked under "Custom Layout Save/Restore" in Desktop Restore 1.6.3. Again, time will tell if this will hold permanently on all three notebooks.

This question is for dencorso ... when I was playing around with XP last year I posted about Desktop icons not staying in place or rearranging at different times. You posted about midiox desktop restore (Desktop Icon Save and Restore 1.6.3) at that time and I went and downloaded it ... but I didn't seem to get it working right or something and got frustrated and just decided to stay with Windows 98SE. However, because of my WiFi problems occurring with these IBM Thinkpads, which is now a thing of the past with XP installed, I am staying the course this time with XP. As I said earlier, I have three Desktop icon restore programs on my machine, counting Desktop Restore 1.6.3 and they do the job when the icons shuffle around. I would like to know the settings that you use for Desktop Icon Restore 1.6.3 on your computers. When I read the information at the web page, I'm not sure if I am reading what I think I'm reading. Will the program automatically put the icons back in order "without" any input from me? In other wards, everytime the icons move, Desktop Icon Save and Restore will in a split second restore the icons on its own? Am I understanding this right? Here's what I have under "Custom Layout Save/Restore" ... I have my icon layout saved and then there are three boxes to check or leave unchecked at the bottom. I have the bottom line checked ... Display Only Custom Menu on Desktop and nothing else checked. Is this how you have your system set up? This looks like a very good program that should work but I may not have the settings just right. ... I said earlier that this question was for dencorso, since he recommends this program and uses it but input from anyone is also welcome. thanks ...

Thanks dencorso for doing the editing ... I don't mind at all, it looks a lot neater. I have that program also installed Desktop Restore 1.6.3 and I just noticed the TIP that the author provides at his site. TIP: Even with Desktop restore installed, does Windows seem to scramble your icons now every time you reboot, or press F5 to refresh? If so, after you restore your icons the way you want them, manually move one icon a space or two over and then move it back. After that Windows should remember their placement for a much longer time. ... after my last post and after two days of the Desktop Icons staying in place, they did shuffle around when I opened XMPlay and went to the Integration tab to set "Associated filetypes" of music to play ... as soon as I hit the Apply button ... the Desktop Icons shuffled to the old positions. I just now tried the author's tip of "manually move one icon a space or two over and then move it back ... that seems to be working ... when I hit F5 now the icons do no move but before every time I would hit F5, the icons would change position. Maybe this will work after all. I will keep "icon watch" for the next few weeks and have my fingers crossed. thanks ...

bphlpt ... after my last post I decided to go ahead and post everything I have on the subject ... I guess if the Mods decide it's OK or not OK, then they can remove my post. I don't see anything sinister about it, forum looks OK ... a person asked for help with Desktop Icons and this guy (securityguy14) comes along with a registry fix that seems to work for most people. He didn't give anyone credit so I give him the credit. It must have been his discovery or fix. I have posted the replies of thanks that came in after various people tried the fix. As I write this my Desktop Icons are still in place after a full two days. I sure hope this is a permanent fix ... like I said earlier, after a few weeks I will have a better feel for everything. How can I lock desktop icons? (at answers.microsoft.com)

I myself keep having my Desktop Icons shuffle around when I startup the computer or when I am on the computer and open or close a folder and they will suddenly move back to the layout that I don't want. I have three programs to restore the icons back to the order that I want ... mostly use one but the others are secondary backups, in case one fails. Anyway, having just switched over to XP Pro earlier this month (from 98SE) I have been getting everything to my liking for that "final" Ghost backup but my one problem has been the Desktop icons changing every so often ... so the other day I spent a few hours hunting around on Google for a possible registry fix for this problem. Finally as I was ready to give up, I came across this forum and a guy there had posted a registry fix and several people had said "it works" ... one person had 12 computers to look after and said it works. There were some that said it didn't work for them but they might not have did the registry fix correctly. I have three notebooks and have put this registry fix on two of them to try it out. Since I have applied the fix my Desktop Icons have not moved from the way that I want them to be on the desktop. It's only been (roughly) two days that I have been using the fix so I guess in a few weeks or a month I will know for sure if it's truly a fix. I can gather all the information and post it here for others to try out, if it is OK to do so. The guy that everybody is thanking will get the credit of course, but he seems to have disappeared from the forum ... made two or three postings and left. If dencorso or any moderator says it's OK to do so, then I will. I am just not sure, since it was on another forum. Like I said, so far it seems to be working ... since I have applied the registry patch/fix ... every time I have started my computers, the icons have not moved and when I'm on the computer for several hours, the icons are staying in place. So far, this is fantastic ... that icon thing has been driving me crazy. thanks ... ... just will add, I'm not sure if it will work for icon patterns all over the Desktop ... my icons are in two columns on the left side and staying in the order that I place them ... so far.

Just a few words on the subject ... having just recently made the decision to put XP on my computers, I continue to use K-Meleon 1.5.4 and 1.6.0 from my 98SE setup. Wasn't sure how the setup would work but am very happy with the speed and results so far. Was nothing to set up, just put the folders into Program Files ... also using Proxomitron with the same filter setup as in Windows 98SE. I will probably try a few other browsers out over the next few months, but no complaints so far with K-Meleon. ...