This was a really dumb design move by Microsoft. Why would you want to have less options for the user? I just don't understand. How would it have hurt anything to still have the Disable Auto-Arrange or Disable Align To Grid functions available. There must be a way for them to fix this in a Service Pack download.

You CAN'T disable the Auto Arrange feature in Windows 7 Explorer. Windows 7 Explorer uses a new control for displaying the data.Windows Explorer in Windows 7 uses a new custom list view control that doesn't support custom ordering like the old one did. So in folder views you can no longer drag items around to rearrange them. Basically, pretty much nobody used this (except on the desktop, where it is still supported), and re-implementing it in the new virtualized list view wasn't worth the cost. Source: http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=findpost&hl=&pid=591458464 In addition, you can write a bat file of your own to disable auto arrange. However, this procedure is complicated and dangerious if messed up. 1. Make sure REMEMBER EACH FOLDER'S VIEW SETTINGS is checked. (Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Folder Options\VIEW tab 2. Create a .reg file (I call mine CLEANUP.REG), and put these lines in it: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU] [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags] The '-' in front of the key name tells REGEDIT to delete the key when you install the .reg file. Save the file as C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg 3. Create a batch file (I call mine CLEANUP.CMD) and put these lines in it: REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\BagMRU.reg REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Bags.reg where <username> is your logon ID. You can point to another folder if you want, but here just keep it simple for the example. 4. Using the Registry Editor (Regedit), delete the keys [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU] and [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags] This is where your current layouts are stored. 5. Now, configure EVERY window you'd like to retain settings for.I configure my Start menu (RIGHT CLICK,/OPEN), my trash folder, and all folders I use repeatedly. Arrange the columns/icons and windows settings to your preference. 6. When you have all your windows the way you want them, go into Registry Editor again and EXPORT the keys [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU] [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags] to your C:\Users\<username>\Documents folder. 7. To reset, just run your batch file CLEANUP.CMD and it will refersh your folders to the preferences you saved in step 6. If you later want to add a new folder to your cleanup, just run CLEANUP, navigate to that folder, configure it, and do step 6 again. To make it really easy, create a shortcut to your batch file and pin it to your Start Menu. This CLEANUP.CMD file does a lot more than this, but this is the part that solves your problem.

I know you can't disable Auto Arrange or Align to Grid, that's what I'm mad about. Thanks for your bat file idea. If I was more computer savvy I'd try it, but can't quite follow all the steps. If you can do this manually can't Microsoft just create an update to fix the issue? I don't see who benefits by not having this feature.

Let's wait and see.

I have just got first PC on 7, managed to sort everything and get used to it whilst still using Vista on previous lap top until I moved all my work files across, went to uncheck the box for "auto sort" so I can sort myself as I haveloads of work files with pictures which I want laid out in a certain way and just can't figure out how too ! Like someone says above why change it, I have 5 workmates all on XP still that need this feature of been able to personally align files and pictures within files how I want too.

Well Service Pack 1 Release Candidate is out and I don't see this blocking problem fixed in it. Working with files is impossible without auto sort and auto arrange turned off. I have formatted and gone back to Windows XP SP3. No problem with that OS. Microsoft can't take any action or notice but I definitely can.

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