OT, Windows 7 computer help

I bought a new HP desktop last spring with Windows 7 (includes Windows 10 if I want). I have about 20 icons on the screen, they are restless, won't stay in one place. I had them all on the left side but the only one that stays in place is the trash bucket. I have to hunt all over the screen to find what I want to use each time I bring it back from 'sleep', I never had this happen with Windows 98 or XP. Anybody know how to glue them in place?

To arrange them, you can right click an empty spot on your
desktop and select Sort By - your choice of Name, type, etc.

Are you by chance running more than one monitor?

Royce is on the trail. I use 10 and find it to be marvelous. Faster by 40% and solid. Icons stay put. Jim

Thanks, but no cigar yet.

Royse, I did the right click on the desktop and found the 'view' option, the 'auto arrange' is not checked but the others are. I place the icons such that the ones I use the most are to the right and the rest fill in towards the left. The 'sort by' option puts them where it thinks they should be, not where I need them if I understand it correctly. I'm trying to find the 'lock icons on desktop'(?) command. I'm only using one monitor but am running two 'computers' on it. The windows 7 has some stuff I don't like (Outlook.com and others), so I set up a virtual machine in 7 and run XP on that, so the end result is I have Windows 7 plus Windows XP for email (Outlook Express) and Microsoft Works and some other older programs that I like on the same computer. The XP side works fine as does the 7 except for the wandering icons.

Janicholson: Thanks, I am not real familiar with 10 but what I have heard about it does not impress me, I think Microsoft has been going backward since XP. I have the discs to install 10 in this computer if I am forced to downgrade from 7 but I will wait as long as I can.

I understand the Windows 7 XP mode machine quite well.
I'm typing this on an older laptop running Windows 10.
I have a Windows 7 VM on it to check the settings I'm talking
about. Within that Windows 7 VM, I have an XP mode machine too.
So I have all three running right here in front of me, on one laptop.

I suspect yours doesn't like changing between the different screen
sizes between two "monitors". In your case, they may not be
physical monitors, but the virtual monitor on your XP machine.
It would probably be a good idea to upgrade to the latest
video driver on both the XP and Window 7 machines.

Windows 10 - "I will wait as long as I can."

That might last until you have to buy a new computer.
The hardware being built now does not support anything older
than Windows 10. I will have to upgrade 3000 or so machines
at work because of it. New ones won't run Windows 7, the old
ones won't run Windows 10 and they all need to be the same.

Hi Royse,

I suspected you would understand what I was trying to say. The 'xp mode' as I understand it was removed as an option in 2014 at the end of support for xp from Microsoft, at least I couldn't find it last summer. So I installed this Oracle Virtual Machine to house the xp that I am used to. During the install I didn't read all the fine print and ended up with 10 GB of storage, filled that pretty quick, the computer has a 1 TB hard drive. I'll have to remove it and start over when I have time to figure out the details. If you do long distance tutoring, sign me up! ;-)

Thanks, Warren

There's also a setting that allows Windows Themes to rearrange your icons. I had to turn this off to resolve the same issue.
Windows Themes settings

"If you do long distance tutoring, sign me up! ;-) "

I usually refrain from even answering computer related
questions here on YT. I'm a network administrator by trade.
I fix and maintain 3000 or so at a time, every day.
So it is sometimes frustrating for me to talk about them on
non-computer related forums. That "geek speak" thing maybe.

My email is open if you'd like to contact me.
I'll try to get a better understanding of exactly what you
are running and see if I can help you out.

Royse,

I didn't answer the monitor thing in the last post. Both 7 and xp are using the same monitor independently, both use the full screen. This is not set up as a smaller screen inside a 7 screen, if that makes sense. I do not have an xp mode inside 7, it is set up like your 7 VM inside your 10. The computer was new last spring, it came already set up for Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (available through DG rights from Windows 10 Pro), plus discs for both 7 Pro and 10 Pro operating systems. I couldn't use the xp disc that came with my old Toshiba laptop (proprietary rights) so I bought a Windows xp system recovery disc cheap through Amazon and used the key from the Toshiba to keep Microsoft happy. After I fired up the xp, Windows started downloading all the updates and patches to bring it up to date, very nice of them. My real problem with the VM is the 10 GB of storage, the instructions claim it is easy to change but I can't make sense of it.
I Just read your last post before posting this. I was a computer message switching center maintenance supervisor (my title) in the Army back in 1969-70, not very good. I don't want to add to your stress, so don't feel obligated.


MeAnthony,

I followed your instructions, the 'allow themes to change desktop icons' option box is already not checked. I thought that would have been the answer. That was a good lead, but this computer is sneaky!

"I don't want to add to your stress, so don't feel obligated."

I don't feel obligated and it's not stressful to help a fellow out.
The frustration comes from trying to do so on a public forum.
I'd be happy to help off line via email or phone.

Thanks, I'll try your email. I'm on Classic and your posts say no email, that may not be the case. Either way I have to get off for the night and catch up on
other things here before bed.

Is your Windows 7 activated? If it is not
activated some features don't work. Right click
on COMPUTER and select properties and see if
you have the genuine windows logo in the bottom
right corner of the screen.