My desktop icons are arranged vertically in columns but when I try to range-select a group of them they range-select horizontally in rows instead of vertically. How can I fix this?

Well I think it's a Windows XP standard I've never seen a XP computer not acting like that. :) -------------------- Thor Byrgesen: The one, oh the one computers and all electronics just hate.

Tzepesch, thanks for your input. My old W2K box arranged and range-selected desktop icons in groups vertically (in columns). It was much easier to manage the icons with that arrangement. I am surprised that XP doesn't do the same. I figured I had somehow changed something. If I can't range-select icons in columns in XP, is there some way to get XP to allow me to arrange the icons horizontally instead of vertically?

bobwhite, Have you right clicked your Desktop, choose "Arrange icons by", and checkmarked "Auto Arrange" and "Align To Grid" ? You could also download and install "Icon Restore" which is Free at the link below. http://users.rcn.com/taylotr/icon_r... Tufenuf

Tufenuf. Yes, been there - done that. My problem is not with how the icons are arranged on the desktop. My problem is with selecting a group of adjacent icons to delete or move them. If I click on an icon and then shift-click another icon, say, 4 rows below in the same vertical column, I get those icons selected alright and all those in between vertically, as I should, but in addition I get all the icons to the left and right of that column as well. So I wind up having to select each, individual icon separately. I cannot simply range-select a desired group of icons in a vertical column. How can I fix this?

bobwhite, I don't think you can change the behaviour you describe, but you can select a vertical column of icons: 1. Place the mouse pointer just above and to the left/right of the first icon (not directly over the icon). 2. Press and hold the left mouse button while dragging a box around the column of adjacent icons. 3. Release the mouse button. Unless I totally misunderstood, I believe that's what you're trying to do...

kptech, THANK YOU!! That is a GREAT workaround to what is an obvious glitch in XP! It worked beautifully. Thanks to you and to everyone on Computing.net who gave time and thought to this problem of mine.