a problem with the desktop

[reble]

This is on a Dell Inspiron 15-3541 laptop, OS Win7 Home 32bit. Take a look at the attached picture. On the right side of the picture in the Free Commander shell. See all the folders under the desktop folder in the red box. Those sub folders don't show on the desktop it self anymore. But in Free Commander shell and Windows Explorer I can access all the folders, sub folders and programs. Why don't those folders show up on the Desktop it self anymore, They use to be on the Desktop.

Steve

Update. I figured out why the missing folders aren't on the laptop screen. The missing folders are on the extended screen, when the extended screen monitor is plugged in. I can turn off the extended screen in Windows and fix it that way also. As to why this is happening, I have no idea.

 

[mitchell65]

CAn we ssume that these icons did show on the desktop before? If so, have you applied any Windows 7 updates, installed new software or made any other changes to your system? Do you have a system restore point to a date before this problem first occurred?

 

[torchwood]

Hi Reble,

Id have to say that you have changed the extended display options.
Every one of those icons showing are Shortcuts, where as in your other view its showing folders.

Roy

 

[mrjimphelps]

Right-click on an empty spot on your desktop, and choose Display Properties (something like that). Dig around in there for an option to select how many monitors are active. First, identify the monitor number (1, 2, etc) of your primary monitor. Then turn off all active monitors except for that one.

 

[reble]

To Mrjimphelps. Yes I can turn off the extended display and all file folders and short cuts to prog's are back on the laptop screen. Nothing that I know of was changed in the extended display options. It just happened when I turned the laptop on a few days ago.

To Torchwood I haven't changed the extended display options at all.

To mitchell65. Yes these icons did show on the desktop before? Windows 7 updates are on automatic update. Other then a few games installed. No new software or any other changes to your system? I haven't checked on a system restore point to a date before this problem first occurred?

Right-click on an empty spot on your desktop, and choose Display Properties (something like that). Dig around in there for an option to select how many monitors are active. First, identify the monitor number (1, 2, etc) of your primary monitor. Then turn off all active monitors except for that one.

 

[mitchell65]

I haven't checked on a system restore point to a date before this problem first occurred?

Let us know the result when you do.

 

[mrjimphelps]

To Mrjimphelps. Yes I can turn off the extended display and all file folders and short cuts to prog's are back on the laptop screen. Nothing that I know of was changed in the extended display options. It just happened when I turned the laptop on a few days ago.

Sounds like that fixed the problem. Is it fixed, or is the problem still occurring?

 

[reble]

I did a system restore point to a date before this problem first occurred. It didn't not change the place where the desktop icons sit on auto sort. On manual control I can move the icons and folders off the extended display and on to the laptop display and they will stay on the laptop display even through a shut down and restart of the laptop as long as I don't touch the auto sort.

Let us know the result when you do.

 

[mitchell65]

So the problem is sorted, Yes?
Incidentally I can't see why you have changed back to 32Bit OS when you have at least 6GB of Ram installed?

 

[reble]

As long as I don't use the auto sort the desktop is fine. If I use the auto sort with the extended display plugged in and turned on then some of the icons and most of the folders will be back on the extended display. As to the 32bit, I have some Amateur Radio prog's that flat out won't run on any windows OS 64bit. And I use those prog's a lot.

So the problem is sorted, Yes?
Incidentally I can't see why you have changed back to 32Bit OS when you have at least 6GB of Ram installed?

 

[mrjimphelps]

As long as I don't use the auto sort the desktop is fine. If I use the auto sort with the extended display plugged in and turned on then some of the icons and most of the folders will be back on the extended display.

This is how Windows is supposed to work. When the extended monitor is plugged in AND when the display extends to that monitor AND when you have it on auto sort, you can expect Windows to move icons around however it thinks is best.

 

[ThunderThor]

I got this problem couple years ago, I didn't know how to fix it back then, I just lived with it and open the folder in Windows Explorer instead. Now I know....