I'm unable to test this at this moment, but memory says that it fixes this to choose the "Show only on 1" on the multiple displays drop-down list. Then when wanting to once again use both monitors, selecting "Extend these displays" on the drop-down list.
FWIW, this also seems to keep my...
This is not answering the question exactly as you asked it, but Office 2003 is installed on all of my computers and since, over the years, I have done many fresh installs, I keeep a permanent copy of that update which, as has been suggested by others here, I downloaded from the Microsoft Update...
When I mentioned "ExplorerPatcher" and the outdated version's effect on my desktop, I was referring to a specific program with that name (ExplorerPatcher), whose purpose for me (among probably many other things it does) is to manage the Windows 11 Taskbar in ways that make it more like Windows...
It appears that the space between all of the folders columns is affected by the folder name that is longest, i.e. in the case of your first screenshot "The Raised Access Flooring Company". (Folder names in your second screenshot are all much shorter.)
You might try renaming the longest folder...