DesktopOK

Submit portable freeware that you find here. It helps if you include information like description, extraction instruction, Unicode support, whether it writes to the registry, and so on.
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JohnW
Posts: 386
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:18 am
Location: London, UK

DesktopOK

#1 Post by JohnW »

[Moderator note: this is the primary DesktopOK program thread. View database entry]

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DesktopOK saves the position of icons on the screen.

I guess this belongs in the "yet another" category but ...

1. Arrangements can be saved for each User.

2. Arrangements can be saved for each selected screen resolution.

I didn't test its portability; the Home Site states ...

"DesktopOK does not have to be installed and can be executed easily from the desktop,
and can be carried on a small USB-stick or other memory device. "

It's available from ...

Code: Select all

http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Software/DesktopOK&language=english

donald
Posts: 561
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:14 am
Location: knoxville TN USA

speaking of stealth

#2 Post by donald »

when using a public or friends computer I might use this to reset the icons after moving them, I might even use it to move them to my prefrences

I have seen a lot of comments about how bad changing the wallpaper is so how much worse is it if I change someone elses desktop icons????????????

this program shows no new registry settings on regfromapp once I start it except when I set it to open with windows it shows
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
"DesktopOK"="\"C:\\Users\\don\\Desktop\\DesktopOK.exe\" -bg"

and when I click on the website link on the bottom left corner it adds

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2\{8e1e4336-e329-11dc-8082-806e6f6e6963}]
"BaseClass"="Drive"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MountPoints2\{a924c2a9-e7f2-11dc-b5b0-00e0b8e249aa}]
"BaseClass"="Drive"

donald
Posts: 561
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:14 am
Location: knoxville TN USA

DesktopOk

#3 Post by donald »

I know this has been posted before but I think it is worth another look.
If you use Yod'm 3d on a host computer you will rearrange the host icon locations (unless you have a separate desktopicon.ini for each host). Further changing desktop resolution can rearrange the icons as well.
I have seen a lot of comments about how bad changing the host's wallpaper is so how much worse is it if the host's icons are changed?

I use this wonderful little program regularly, it can also let you switch icons to your preference then back.
Save and restore the positions of icons.
DesktopOK is a small but effective solution for user that have to change the screen resolution often.
:::: Featutes :::::
# Save your dearest icon locations for each screen resolution.
# Each user can then have his own arrangement.
# Minimises to tray area for easy access.
# Launch at Windows startup.

DesktopOK does not have to be installed and can be executed easily from the desktop,
and can be carried on a small usb-stick or other memory device.
http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Softwa ... ge=english

Please note the old thread is dead and can't be posted to any longer.

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Napiophelios
Posts: 610
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:48 pm

#4 Post by Napiophelios »

Where does it store the settings for icon position saves?
User's AppData folder or with the exe?


edit: it writes to the machine's registry :cry:

donald
Posts: 561
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:14 am
Location: knoxville TN USA

which registry entries

#5 Post by donald »

Which registry entries??????????????????????????????????????????????

Please post the specific entries and or the registry tool used to identify them, additionally the specific version number of desktop OK (I have 1.37). (I am using RegFromApp)

Please note that the OS changes the registry on its own and there are a few sections of the registry you should ignore.

Please contact me with your reg entries and or consult the website for registry info.

You will find with a little research that some registry entries are from the OS and not any application.

In my testing I find that this application has no registry entries and creates none when saving desktop layout or when restoring layout.

*** It can be used to sync desktop layout between different computers something that shouldnt be possible if it stores to the registry.

donald
Posts: 561
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:14 am
Location: knoxville TN USA

A test for you.

#6 Post by donald »

A test for you.
1.) First save the desktop layout then delete the application, then sort the desktop layout by a method other than the one you used previously, and finally extract a new copy from the zip file you downloaded the application in.

2.) Open the extracted application, (it should be the same exact version that you used to save the desktop layout and deleted in step 1) try to restore the desktop layout.

And the Outcome is?
The newly extracted copy can't restore the previously stored desktop layout. (because it isn't stored in the registry)

*** It can be used to sync desktop layout between different computers something that shouldn't be possible if it stores to the registry.

$$$$***You may need to add a file called DesktopOK.ini to the folder to store the info in this (I think this was created automatically in previous versions.)

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Napiophelios
Posts: 610
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:48 pm

#7 Post by Napiophelios »

I am using the v1.37 free

I didnt use a program to trace it,
I just opened my registry editor and looked around.
I know whats on my machine and new things just stand out.

Code: Select all

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SoftwareOK.de\DesktopOK]
"Liz"="Ja"
Even with the ini file present you must agree to the license
which is stored in the registry.

If you delete it you will have the "first run"
popup box again;which asks you to agree to their terms of use.

I didnt mean to imply the program settings go into the registry.

Alot of people use portables on machines that arent theirs and writing to the registry in any increment is just bad manners.

its no biggie I just thought I would mention it.

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guinness
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Re: DesktopOk

#8 Post by guinness »

V1.85 still writes the acceptance to the Software License at HKCU\Software\SoftwareOK.de\DesktopOK

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Napiophelios
Posts: 610
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:48 pm

Re: DesktopOk

#9 Post by Napiophelios »

guinness wrote:V1.85 still writes the acceptance to the Software License at HKCU\Software\SoftwareOK.de\DesktopOK
its got a new feature too,you can push a button to mess up your desktop icons to test your layouts saved positions :mrgreen:

donald
Posts: 561
Joined: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:14 am
Location: knoxville TN USA

Re: DesktopOk

#10 Post by donald »

I have just received an email from the developer of DeskTopOk.
1.86 is Online no reg key
I think that this would make it acceptable to most.

*****************
The website, listing the change log,
#1.86 23th Feb 2010
Fix license: is no longer stored in the registry.

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guinness
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Re: DesktopOk

#11 Post by guinness »

Added To TPFC: http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=1692
Vote Now!

Instead of waiting for someone to add it, I decided to do it instead. Change the description if anyone wants to.

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guinness
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Re: DesktopOk

#12 Post by guinness »

That has to be the quickest acceptance into the database, I think it was 2mins!

Cheers Donald!

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webfork
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Re: DesktopOK v 1.21

#13 Post by webfork »

Modify system volume by using the scroll wheel while hovering over the taskbar.

Just updated the entry to include this feature. I'm so glad I came across this. My least favorite thing about my Lenovo is it's total failure to let me easily change the volume settings (like with the volume buttons that frequently don't work).

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Midas
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Re: DesktopOK

#14 Post by Midas »

FYI, Pitaschio has always had that same function... (http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/ ... php?t=2487).

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webfork
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Re: DesktopOK

#15 Post by webfork »

Midas wrote:FYI, Pitaschio has always had that same function... (http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/ ... php?t=2487).
Ah cool ... wish I'd seen that before.

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