Anyone know how to get rid of these dots?!?!?

[thenext8seconds]

I realize this might be a dumb thing to nitpick about, but it's always been like this for me at least since Windows XP. When I click on the desktop, the icon that was last clicked on or if there's just one icon on the desktop then that one, it gets a little dotted outline around it. There must be a way to keep this from happening? Because I thought it was fixed cuz when I first installed Windows 7, it wouldn't do this, but after a few days, now it's doing it again.

I can make it go away if I right click on the desktop and choose refresh, but as soon as I click on the taskbar and then click on the desktop again, it comes back.

*edit* okay, so now it's gone away for now, even when I do click on the taskbar and back on the desktop, but still, has anyone else noticed this peculiarity before in Windows, or am I just cursed?

 

[FreakyFerret]

It's common. It's basically just the selection box still there but not highlighted is all. If you choose another icon or unselect that icon, it'll go away.

 

[thenext8seconds]

It's common. It's basically just the selection box still there but not highlighted is all. If you choose another icon or unselect that icon, it'll go away.

Well actually, the icon is obviously not selected, and that's the ony icon i keep on my desktop. grrr

 

[Jacee]

I don't get the 'dots' as your pic shows ... have you tried using 'single click', in folder options? It works the same on the desktop.

 

[DocBrown]

Could the dots have to do with screen resolution?

 

[thenext8seconds]

to the 2 questions above, no and no. i have had 3 different monitors in the last several years all with different resolutions and it's always happened.... and i don't have single click enabled, nor do i like it enabled but either way, it doesn't have any effect on the dotted outline.

 

[YupYup]

Check "show translucent selection rectangle" in the visual effects settings.

 

[RST101]

Don't worry about it I've seen them on my desktop plenty of times.

 

[garbanzo]

i know this is more of a work-around than a proper solution, but if you install Fences from Stardock, it gives you the ability to double-click on your desktop and hide all the icons. another double-click brings them back. you don't have to actually use the 'Fences' bit to get this feature (though they do look quite nice).

it integrates into the shell, so it has no running process to take up resources. works fine with 7100.

 

[FreakyFerret]

It is actually the selection band still being there. You can verify this by having a second icon. Create a short cut to the recycle bin on the desktop. Select it. Now click on the taskbar. Click on the other icon on the desktop. Click on the taskbar. Notice that the dots will change which icon their around.

 

[Orbital Shark]

It's just a default selection icon. I've seen it present since XP too. It just shows the last icon on the desktop selected, even if you didn't run anything. In everyday running you'll actually not even notice it (how many times do you just 'click' the desktop?)..

 

[mxosder16]

with all this talk of how normal it is i'm starting to wonder why i don't have it :sarc:

 

[swarfega]

That feature was introduced back with windows 3.1! It shows the currently active object. It was particularly useful if you didnt have a mouse which was more common in those days, so that you knew that when you pressed spacebar it would action that object.

In previous various of windows other objects such as dialog buttons also had those dots, again to help you with the navigation.

 

[Orbital Shark]

The dots are still there when you expand the 'More Details' section when copying files.

 

[Subsonic]

Sounds like someone likes a real clean desktop. Me too! I use iconoid to make everything (except gadgets) disappear from the desktop after 5 seconds. Only problem is it won't work if you are using a slideshow for your desktop background. There is a workaround though.

 

[Anthony]

For the people that want this feature, this is what you do.......

Click any icon on the desktop once, press ctrl on keboard and scroll mouse so as to make icons bigger and there you go, click taskbar to remove the dots.......:huh:

 

[rkseagle]

Here's an idea, right click on the desktop, then find the selection to turn off viewing desktop icons - problem solved.

 

[Lee]

Attempted to create the same effect, but was unable. Seen this on XP but never Win 7 or Vista. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

 

[YupYup]

Attempted to create the same effect, but was unable. Seen this on XP but never Win 7 or Vista. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Because most vista and win 7 have the blue translucent selection on by default. Go to the visual effects settings deselect "show translucent selection rectangle" if you want to see the dotted outline.

 

[BillDoE]

This has something to do with the last Object you clicked on. Even all the folder Icons turn to an outline when you click off of them. Just more dumbing down of the OS for people who can't remember what they were doing 2 seconds ago. lol I agree it is annoying on the desktop.