Is there a reliable and effortless way to back-up/restore your desktop layout/icons when transitioning between different monitors or display sizes?


Sammy888

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I have my laptop connected to a 34-inch display and I have more than 100 desktop icon/shortcuts. Suffice to say, they don't play nice on my laptop screen or when I connect my laptop into a smaller display.

I found copying and pasting the desktop .ini file doesn't work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDA 1650 Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo C32q-20
Iconoid by Sillysot. Position your icons like your want. Use the "position" tab. Save the positions, Then use same tab to restore icons back to the saved position at any time.
There's also an option there to automatically restore positions if you want, but I've always done it manually using the "restore positions" button
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3447
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
I think DesktopOK does what you want judging by other people's comments about it.
DesktopOK - my ditty #2 - TenForums
DesktopOK suggestion - AC post #33 - TenForums


Best of luck,
Denis
I don't understand why those "other people" would recommend this application. I'd go as far as to label it as potentially malicious.

To start with, there are two nearly identical applications that seem to serve the same purpose: DesktopOK_Installer_x64 and DesktopOK_Installer_x64. Both files have an identical size of 622 KB.

Upon previewing these files using WinRar, the content appears to be written in Russian, which raises immediate concerns. Furthermore, when I ran the exe file to test its functionality, it proceeded to install itself within the %APPDATA%/DesktopOK directory. I couldn't find it at first, and I had to use "Everything" to locate it.

Adding to the issues, the user interface appears ridiculously outdated, and I accidentally ended up saving two desktop layout files. Attempting to remove one proved futile. Subsequently, I opted to install it in a portable directory, meticulously following instructions to create an empty DesktopOK.ini file. Even then, the application persisted in saving itself within both %APPDATA%/DesktopOK and the .ini folder.

Incredibly, there isn't even an uninstaller included, leaving no avenue for proper removal. I had to resort to Revo Uninstaller, which unearthed a multitude of files and components. For these reasons and more, I am unable to provide any form of recommendation for this application.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDA 1650 Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo C32q-20
Iconoid by Sillysot. Position your icons like your want. Use the "position" tab. Save the positions, Then use same tab to restore icons back to the saved position at any time.
There's also an option there to automatically restore positions if you want, but I've always done it manually using the "restore positions" button
Thanks. This isn't any better, I'd say much worse than DesktopOK. Not only is the GUI tiny, it just clears the icons from my screen and stays that way until I tap the screen with my mouse.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDA 1650 Ti
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo C32q-20
Exactly how are you using it. I've used it for many years and it's never failed to work for me.
position your icons
open iconoid>positions tab>save positions (if it says something about some icons off screen just say OK)
when ever you want to store the positions you saved open iconoid>positions tab>restore saved positions
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3447
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Personally I like Stardock Fences4, relatively cheap and very clever.


I have 6 monitors and can replace the icons I’ve arranged, after a fresh install using the snapshot Fences creates and readding the regisry values.

Edit: I’ve just noticed they have changed to a yearly subscription, that is a shame.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.3374
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4 x LG 23MP75 1 x 24" LG M38H 1 x 32" LF6300 TV Monitor 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    2 x WD something Something 8TB HDD's / 2 x WD something Something 4TB HDD's / 1 x EVO 1TB SSD / 2 x QVO 1TB SSD's / 1 x EVO 250 GB SSD / 2 x QVO 1TB (External Hub) / 1 x EVO 1TB (Portable Backup Case)
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Full Tower
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    100/40Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 22621.2215
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Graphics processor is an Intel Iris Xe
    Sound Card
    optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.

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