Disable windowsXP 'arrange icons by' options...?

[sammyc]

(I have posted this once before but didn't sort it, & it's irritating me again recently so...)

Is there any way I can disable the 'arrange icons by' function so that I can have my pictures (for example) in the order of my choice & not by any of the existing options? I have a mix of folders and individual images (thumbnails) & even though I can arrange them to suit initially, windows will default to re-sorting under certain circumstances. Any ideas? I have been to View/Choose details &c, but even if you uncheck most of the options Name remains as a basic.

Thanks...

[tefster]

Not sure if you can do this through the local policy editor as I've only done it on domains, but you could try that. Or uncheck auto-arrange and then do "ools, Folder Options, View and click the "ApplyT to all folders" but I don;'t think that will stop it from re-arranging if the desktop size changes.

[nc555]

I have noticed this too although it does not bother me too much. The following quote taken from the link below...

By default, Windows XP will remember the view settings for the 400 most recently used folders. After that, XP will begin overwriting the data of the oldest folder, and its view setting will be lost

Maybe of some help: http://www.tweakxp.com/article36833.aspx

[sammyc]

Thanks guys, it is not the 'view' settings, but the 'arrange icons by' settings. Specifically for My Pictures, I want them to stay where I place them and not sort by any of the options, Name, Size, Type etc. I can move them into the order I want ok, but it will not stay that way certain things make it revert back. I may have to give up; it just seems like it ought to be possible.... grrrr.

[kalniel]

It seems to work for me.

Make sure you're not in details view (ie, icons) and that you don't go back to details view. Then there should be a View->arrange icons by->modified option.

As long as it's on modified it shouldn't change from your own ordering (as long as you order it after clicking on modified). It might help to turn off auto arrange and turn on align to grid instead.

[sammyc]

Thanks, I will try your suggestions
..So far I have tried setting to 'align to grid', then I installed a windows update pack & restarted computer. My Pictures were re-arranged with all folders at the top together and all individual images together, so they weren't exactly as I left them..... but within that most were in order.

edit: turned pc off & on again this morning... my 'align to grid' reverted to Name/Auto Arrange.

[kylefoxaustin]

go to ehow.com and look up how to # 2244374. I'm new to the forum so cannot post links yet.
or just google "arrange pictures windowsXP and look up the ehow explanation.

it'll fix your problem. however, one caveat, you'll have to use picture name like "Mypicture(1)"
or "kyle'spictures(1).jpg, kylepictures(2).jpg, kylepictures(3).jpg". it works great and very fast though