DOCUMENT:Q226798 10-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Desktop Icons Are Rearranged After You Install Windows NT SP4 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4, 4.0 SP5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== After you install Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4) on your computer, all desktop icons are arranged in alphabetical order on the left side of the screen, regardless of their previous location. CAUSE ===== This behavior occurs because SP4 enables the desktop icon Auto Arrange feature. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this problem: 1. Right-click an empty area of the desktop. 2. Point to Arrange Icons, and then click Auto Arrange to clear the check mark. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. MORE INFORMATION ================ Following is the registry key and value: Registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Deskview Value: 01 00 00 00 20 02 00 00 When the fifth set of hexadecimal numbers is set to 21, Auto Arrange is on. When it is 20, Auto Arrange is off. However, this setting cannot be enforced. If the user changes the desktop so that it does not have Auto Arrange, this setting does not stay at logoff. When the system policy or logoff script runs upon the next login, the Auto Arrange setting is set for the desktop. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp5 kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400sp5 kbWinNTSEnt400sp4 kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400sp5 kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search Version : :4.0,4.0 SP4,4.0 SP5 Hardware : ALPHA x86 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbnofix ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.