How to force Windows to save desktop icon positions?

You can simply right-click the Desktop & click Refresh. This saves the icon positions (at least it does on XP, also confirmed on Windows 7).

Here's a simple way to confirm that this method works:

• Move an icon
• Kill explorer.exe (& restart it, if it doesn't auto-restart)
• Notice icon moves back (because it wasn't saved)
• Move icon again
• Right-click on the Desktop -> click Refresh
• Kill explorer.exe (& restart)
• Notice icon doesn't move back (since this time it was saved before killing explorer)

There is a nice, tiny standalone DesktopOK app, which can SAVE the config-file (in same folder), and then Restore it whenever you want..

Just installed DesktopRestore from midiox, which works fine on Windows 7 and 10. Just right click on the Desktop to see the menu -