Solved How to set desktop icons as LIST (Win 8)

Technoir

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Hi,

I am trying to display my desktop icons as a list. Note: I am using the "W8" app (the add-on start button).

Windows 8 does not offer this setting, but there is an app:
https://code.google.com/p/desktoplistview/

However, everytime I reboot, my carefully sorted list icons are re-organized into one column on the left. Any way to prevent this?

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
If you download the file in this post:
Restore Icon Positions - Example Scripts - AutoIt Forums

then install Autoit 3.3.8.1 from here:
Index of /autoit3/files/archive/autoit

the right file is 3rd link from the bottom that says 3.3.8.1-setup.exe on the end

if you double click the IconPos.au3 file it will run and you will see thix Dialog:

restoreqw6.jpg


You are interested in the Desktop section. According to the post it worked in Vista. So chances are good it will work on your desktop.

Edit: after you align your icons how you want them, double click IconPos.au3 and highlight Program Manager(Desktop) then click the Save Button. To restore, highlight the same Desktop line and click Load.

It just writes the desktop icon positions and names to a file on Save. On Load it reads them in from the file and moves the desktop icons with corresponding names to the positions saved.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Hmmm....so I downloaded the file in your first link, put it on the desktop, opened it, and Windows opens the App Store. Apparently the file is not recognized.

Then I installed Autoit from your second link, and opened 3.3.8.1-setup.exe


Double clicked the IconPos.au3 file on desktop: Autoit ERROR. File opening error.


Sorry for the trouble and thanks for your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
You have to install AutoIt3 first. During the install it will ask if .au3 files should run or edit on open. Choose Run. Then you can just double click the script to run. You can get help on how to run and compile autoit scripts here:
General Help and Support - AutoIt Forums

There is a new version of AutoIt3 out but since the script is from 2007 I thought there would be better chance of it working with the previous release. Plus the new version of AutoIt still has to kinks to work out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
btw if you find getting the AutoIt script working a hassle, there are surely many free icon position save/restore programs out there. Check the big freeware download sites. I just thought there was a good chance this one would work even if icon view isn't the desktop default.

Edit: another poster, David Bailey, points out that Iconoid has that view option:
Iconoid - Hide and show desktop icons, maketransparent backgrounds

That way you would only have to run one utility.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Thanks, that worked!

I installed a free icon position save/restore app. It is a bit of a hassle, because everytime I re-start, I need to run the app, click 'restore' for the icons to move where I had left them.

All in all, I think we can say that Windows 8 is a real POS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
One way to automate it is to use a hotkey or macro program. You could have the icon restore program come up at login, but delayed so that it doesn't lose focus. Then you could use a scripting macro, or one of those that records keystrokes/mouse clicks. It's a little work. But once you got it right then you could forget about it. Every time the system started up the icon program would start, then the proper input would make it load the settings.

Again, you should be able to find many on freeware sites. But at least now you know you can get them where you want them and can take your time about the (optional) automated part. :)

Please mark the thread solved if you consider the issue fixed. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
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