if you set listview.columns(0).width=-1 it makes that column the width of the widest item, pushing the other columns off to the right. (you said left...which i dont understand, maybe you can enlighten me...never seen that happen before, course never seen a ghost either.) i had the same problem, cept i was only using column(0).

you can also set the width this way.

in form load
listview1.Columns.Add("", 300, HorizontalAlignment.Center)

change 300 to whatever you want...i was only using one column, so i set it to the width of the control on the screen