Windows 7: Desktop Icons under the Taskbar

Im really trying to help, but after this I have no other ideas.

Gently left click on any icon, so that it is shaded in the background. Then put your cursor on any icon. Then hit the ctrl while you adjust the size with the mouse button.

I appreciate your efforts, really do, anything that I can try I will.

But unfortunately that didnt help. It just seems to adjust the size but continues to keep te bottom part of the icon under the taskbar.

Im going to do some more playing around with the screen settings as it seems it clearly has to do with this dual screening (since when I put it in duplicate mode it works fine or even show desktop on 1).

Maybe try to uninstall and reinstall the Nvidia GTS250 driver and start again. Something is telling this screen incorrectly where the grid should be for the desktop icons.

Dixit

Did some pretty intensive testing and troubleshooting. Uninstalled the Nvidia driver, windows7 put the WDDM driver in, same issue, put the Nvidia driver back, still same issue.

Decided to physically rewire the two monitors different (switched the wires), same thing, so its not the monitors.

Then decided to do some more wiring and noticed when I had one of the monitors only plugged in, Windows auto kicks into 1screen (obviously) and that screen is always fine, regardless of whether its the left or right one. As long as just one is connected, the icon grid is perfect.

Plug the 2nd cable in and instantly the other monitor kicks in and the original one has the icon issue. So I can replicate it on either monitor, so I know its not the monitor or the cabling. It seems to be maybe a bug with Nvidia driver or Windows when both are connected the monitor labeled as #1 (in identifying the monitor in display properties) is the one that always has this icon grid issue when the 2nd monitor is connected and extend desktop is chosen.

Dixit

I think Ive nailed the problem, no fix, but think I know whats causing it.

So follow me here, I got dual screens. Left one is #1 and Right one is #2 (when you click identify monitors).

Now if I make the left one the MAIN display in display properties, everything is fine, icons on the desktop dont fall under the taskbar. If I make #2 the MAIN, then icons fall under the taskbar.

So I played around. I decided to take the 1 and 2 monitors shown in display properties and switch them around making it 2 and 1 (even though physically its 1 on left and 2 on right). Now remember all I did was flip the monitors in where windows think they actually are, and now the right monitor icons with the task bar are just fine. Not under anymore.

So basically this is what I came down to. IF you attempt to make the RIGHT side of any dual screen setup your main (such as wanting the taskbar on the right monitor), then the icon problem happens. If you make the left one the main (regardless of if its actually monitor 1 or 2) it always works fine.

Windows7 just doesnt seem to like having the taskbar on the right screen.

And as for further proof of this, I noticed when I was flipping the displays "make this display main" setting, I noticed on the right monitor for a SPLIT second the icons were aligned right and then dropped below the taskbar. So that tells me windows doesnt seem to truly tell the icon grid there is a taskbar on the right. IF you check the hide taskbar, you can see how the last line of icons actually align well as if there was no taskbar to the bottom of the screen, so that tells me the grid doesnt believe the taskbar actually there.

Attached are screenshots showing just the right monitor and all I did was flip the logical monitor positions around. You can see how the icon positions change.

Dixit

You may not care for it, but a better solution is to get rid of desktop icons altogether. You could use a program such as ObjectDock and/or RocketDock to organize the icons on a launch bar that hides off screen until you need it.

or you make a new toolbar for the taskbar that contains the shortcuts.
example:

the left is the folder, the right is the main bar/quicklaunch. the folder section will show everything that is in the actual folder.

I have that also. I use the quick launch for the programs that I use most oft, and the launch bars contain programs that I expect to use often, but not enough to crowd the Taskbar with.

I personally think it is just an annoying bug. Nonetheless, I fixed my problem by first changing my resolution to something other than what is normal, and then changed it back. My ICONs now show up beside the taskbar instead of underneath it. Not sure if this helps.

For those who may come across this thread...

I think there's a bug with the desktop handling in Windows 7. The desktop seems to extend under the taskbar including full screen-sized windows.

Every morning I have to go through a small process to reset this back to "normal". It essentially involves resetting the desktop which can probably be done a number of ways... ie. resolution change, then change back. I usually deal with this by right-clicking the taskbar, selecting "Properties" and allowing the taskbar to auto-hide (must press apply). Once you switch this off, it seems to fix the problem but it needs to be done every time you boot.


Mark