Question

I just installed a pre-RTM build of Windows 7 that I downloaded from Microsoft, so this may have changed in the RTM version, but I do not think so. (EDIT: Same thing in the released version.)

In Windows Vista, XP and older you could move icons around freely within a folder, rearranging them like I wanted them -- even though it was automatically ordering the position of them. So I could move a file starting with 'B' down below 'M'. I know this is kind of 'wrong', but is this possible?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Right click an empty space in the folder -> View -> Uncheck "Auto Arrange".

This should let you move files around freely without Explorer sorting them back.

Answer 2

Is there not an Align to Grid option that you can un-check?

Answer 3

in a window (folder) there is no Auto Arrange option, even then that option keeps the icons together with no gaps (on desktop all icons will be on left side of screen with it on or you can have them anywhere on screen, e.g. some on left and some on right of screen, when it is turned off) but still allows you to move the position of the icon within the group if turned on. But as I said in a folder, in windows 7, this option does not exist!