Desktop icons

RogerOver · Nov 6, 2021

Hi,
since decades (many Windows versions), I always have only two icons on my desktop: "This PC" in the upper left corner and the basket in the lower right corner.
Since WIN 11, I cannot put the Basket icon fully down. it is blocked at 2/3 to 3/4 down (since the last Windows update it goes a bit more further down).
Align icons is off, see screenshot.

Does anyone know what is causing this ? (WIN11, version 22000.282)

Edwin · Nov 6, 2021

RogerOver said:
... Align icons is off...

Turn it back on.

Another possibility could be that the Desktop Grid has been decreased because of your oversized custom Taskbar.

RogerOver · Nov 6, 2021

Edwin said:
Turn it back on.

Another possibility could be that the Desktop Grid has been decreased because of your oversized custom Taskbar.

Thanks, tried that, but it didn't change a lot.

Edwin said:
Turn it back on.

Another possibility could be that the Desktop Grid has been decreased because of your oversized custom Taskbar.

Thanks even more for that . ... Really !

I reduced my screen settings to 100%, see screenshot.

Then I reduced the size of my taskbar icons to 24x24 and removed the text below the icons.

The result is this:

It seems, that there is some kind of hidden frame, two or three times the height of the taskbar (see red line), which intrigues me !

clam1952 · Nov 6, 2021

I would think it's due to using some kind of taskbar mod or hack? As it's not an issue on the actual Win11 taskbar.

The-Hive · Nov 6, 2021

Have a look at this, I don't know if it is any use:

How to Lock Desktop Icons in Place on Windows 11

There's nothing more infuriating than Windows deciding to rearrange your desktop icons.

www.howtogeek.com

RogerOver · Nov 6, 2021

Hi Malc & Rod,

thank you to both of you.

I first removed both, my taskbar mod/hack (i.e. ExplorerPatcher) and my Startmenu mod/hack (i.e. OpenShell). The effect is less pronounced, but the - hypothetical - hidden frame (hindering the basket icon to fully go into the lower right corner) is still there.

Then I followed the link, Rod gave and clicked on "Autoarrange icons". The effect was, that my basket icon was completly gone :hot:

.
... Fortunately I got it back by clicking on "Default Settings" in "Settings\Personalisation\Desktop Icon Settings" :hug:

.

***

Strange !

But I do not care any further now. I'll leave it as ist is.

Edwin · Nov 6, 2021

@RogerOver
Always a good idea to blur your sensitive info before posting...

Edwin · Nov 6, 2021

Try messing around with native/non-native resolutions and dpi's

z3r010 · Nov 6, 2021

Edwin said:
@RogerOver
Always a good idea to blur your sensitive info before posting...
View attachment 12772

Edited

TairikuOkami · Nov 6, 2021

clam1952 said:
I would think it's due to using some kind of taskbar mod or hack? As it's not an issue on the actual Win11 taskbar.

Indeed, icons even go behind the taskbar, if it is hidden. But changing desktop icon size might help. CTRL +/-

Bree · Nov 6, 2021

RogerOver said:
Since WIN 11, I cannot put the Basket icon fully down. it is blocked at 2/3 to 3/4 down

That would seem to be an unintended side-effect of the Taskbar mods you have used. My un-modded install of 11 can put the Recycle bin basket anywhere I want.

clam1952 · Nov 6, 2021

Just a thought, maybe a reboot needed after undoing the mod?

Edwin · Nov 7, 2021

I still think it's a resolution thing, for me anyway...

1. 1920x1080(recommended), 125% scaling(recommended):

1920x1080(not recommended), 100% scaling(recommended):

RogerOver · Nov 7, 2021

Hi,

thanks to all of you for your advice and precious help !

I redid all above-mentionned steps again (and also removed free launchbar, which I had forgotten to remove the last time). There was nothing left except the Win 11 taskbar. Restarted twice. ... But no change; see screenshot. I also changed the screen resolution (although I was on the recommend one), ... no avail.

The icon always "jumps up" somehow (one to two cm) if I put it near the taskbar (wherever I put it above the whole lenght of the taskbar).

But as I said, it is not really important to me.

So thank you again !

Edwin · Nov 7, 2021

I'm not completely sure but, I think Windows freezes the grid well above the Taskbar so that bottom row items with long names don't get truncated, although, unusually long name items without mouse focus are truncated anyway..., just a thought, either that or I don't know what the hell I'm talkin about!!!

You can also change the icon spacing, but then, things start to look like crap...
('cept the bin's at the bottom!!!

)

Fabler2 · Nov 7, 2021

RogerOver said:
Hi,

thanks to all of you for your advice and precious help !

I redid all above-mentionned steps again (and also removed free launchbar, which I had forgotten to remove the last time). There was nothing left except the Win 11 taskbar. Restarted twice. ... But no change; see screenshot. I also changed the screen resolution (although I was on the recommend one), ... no avail.

View attachment 12860

The icon always "jumps up" somehow (one to two cm) if I put it near the taskbar (wherever I put it above the whole lenght of the taskbar).

But as I said, it is not really important to me.

So thank you again !

Mine does the same unless I auto hide the Taskbar.

Normal

Auto hide

TigerTom · Nov 7, 2021

RogerOver said:
see screenshot.

How did you get this nice lookin taskbar? Can you share some setails?
(I have ExplorerPatcher installed, too)

RogerOver · Nov 8, 2021

Just to tell you the end of the story !

I installed WIN10 Privacy and blocked (nearly) everything, as I had done it before in WIN 10.

Restarted !

Now I can put the Basket into the lower right angle like before (Startmenu and Taskbar hacks / mods not removed), see screenshot !

Honi soit qui mal y pense :wink:

!

RogerOver · Nov 8, 2021

Hi TomTiger :wink:

,

sorry I wrote my contribution before looking up the last new one's.
You need to install FreeLaunchbar (only works with ExplorerPatcher installed).

Then rightclick on the Taskbar and find Toolbars => Freelaunchbar.

Freelaunchbar takes over what in finds in "C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\QuickLaunch" (a hidden folder).

Remove the icons from the normal taskbar (or not). You can drag the FreeLaunchbar to the right or the left of the original taskbar icons with the mouse.

Then you can add new folders to it and put shortcuts to any file you want into the folders. (You can do that directly on the FreeLauch-Taskbar; you do not need to go to the above mentionned "QuickLaunch" folder, which is difficult to find, because hidden). Rightclick the (newly created) folders and go to the menu "Appearance", which allows you to change the corresponding icon of the folder.

When rightclicking again somewhere on the FreeLaunchbar, you can add text under the icons, and other things, but you will also find an entry "FLB settings". There you an change an enormous number of things (icons size, horizontal distance between the icons in "metrics\large buttons", opening of the submenus by hovering over the folders, etc, etc.

---

This was a very short introduction to the possibilities of Freelaunchbar. This free (!) software is really something very precious !
(Only If you want background colors for the submenus or the dark mode, you need to buy the paid version, calles "Truelaunchbar").

My highest esteem to the author of this soft !

R.