Solved Icons Keep Moving, Help?

I hope this is the right location for this thread, if not please feel free to move it, mods.

I have a dual monitor set up, one smaller than the other and its set up to extend the display. When I boot my computer up in the morning from a nightly scheduled hibernation, I find that several of my icons have moved. My display extends to the right and the icons that run along the right side of my bigger, main display are shoved several spaces in and several overlap. I have a single icon on the bottom left (above where the Windows button would be) that ends up shoved up and in by several spaces.

I also have a program called Stardock Fences that allows me to put all my icons into rolling tabs so I can organize my desktop all neat and tidy. Those, despite being locked (normally they cant be moved), end up all jumbled up on my secondary monitor.

I've tried looking up a solution myself but all I get is to turn off Auto Arrange Icons, which I have. I have no clue what could be causing it besides something happening during the hibernation that causes the monitor signals to glitch. I dont have any issues when its just my main monitor plugged in - my icons dont move at all. My smaller monitor is plugged in via HDMI (no choice, thats the only port it has besides old school VGA) and the bigger monitor is through the displayport cable that came with the monitor. One of these:

If any one has any suggestions on what I can do to make it stop, to lock my desktop icons, troubleshooting... anything at all, I'd really appreciate it. This is driving me nuts.

Welcome to the forum

Try deleting the icon file, then move your icons and see if when the PC reboots and reads the new file, hopefully the icons are in the place you put them.

• Press Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog. Type in: %userprofile% (or click on that to copy/paste) and click OK. The User folder will open.
• Make sure hidden items are visible by clicking the View> Show>Hidden items, or in options in File Explorer, make sure hide protected files is unchecked.
• Open the AppData folder.
• Open the Local folder.
• Within the Local folder select the IconCache file and click Delete.

Now arrange the desktop icons and restart the computer.

Welp, I did it. I already had them in place so I just deleted the file, fiddled with one then put it back. Restarted and icons are where I left them but they weirdly behaved the last time I rebooted too so I will keep my fingers crossed and see what happens after the scheduled hibernation tonight.

Thank you for helping, I will come back soon as I can tomorrow and let you know if the fix stuck!

There's been various issues recently with updates causing problems with icons and dual monitors.

@antspants - welp, it didnt work. I just came back to find my computer moved things again without going into hibernation. Its just been sitting since I posted last and things are all over again.

But, now I just noticed that its resizing my fences. They're supposed to be big enough to hold two icons side by side but when it does this, it makes it just small enough to only have one and a huge gap.

ACWN_Designs said:

@antspants - welp, it didnt work. I just came back to find my computer moved things again without going into hibernation. Its just been sitting since I posted last and things are all over again.

But, now I just noticed that its resizing my fences. They're supposed to be big enough to hold two icons side by side but when it does this, it makes it just small enough to only have one and a huge gap.

Click to expand...

You use Stardock Fences? You should of told me.

So what is moving, the Fences? or icons you haven't placed in a Fence?

I’m very sorry, you did say that, I can’t believe I missed it. My sincere apologies. I must of skipped that whole paragraph.

I can help you with almost anything to do with Fences. I just need to wake up properly… coffee.
I have a couple of questions I’ll ask you shortly.

Lol, its fine!

Its the fences themselves and the few icons I DONT have in them that keep moving.



And then the Fences all end up on my other monitor. BUT! Since I deleted the file you told me to, only the Music and New Fences moved. They jumped a good distance above their current places in the picture (where they sit unrolled) and the circled icons moved. That and the Fences keep getting shrunk JUUUUST enough to reduce them from two icons side by side to a single icon and a gap. Going to try your suggestion again, but I have no idea. I know Rollback mentioned that some updates are causing issues with multiple monitors, so it could be that.

I have six monitors. I have no problems.

I just need a little longer, but for now can you open Fences, go to the about section and tell me what version you are running?
Fences4 or Fences5? And what build number?

Yes, I believe it was the last update that was causing problems. I tell them at Stardock and they often use my reports to fix bugs as I have the six monitors so it’s a good template to work with.

I have a link for a patched version for Fences5 that they gave me that I will give you shortly.

I'm using Fences 3 build 3.1.6.1

Checking for updates says its up to date (I assume for that version). Upgrading to 4 or 5, if I recall right, costs money aaaaand I cannot afford it. Last time I recall it being a pretty expensive jump for me. Cant imagine what it is now.

Eh, okay. So its not insane like I was remembering/expecting... still too broke right now to upgrade though, lol.


Though I'm wondering if Rollback meant Windows updates causing issues and not Stardock. They werent specific...

Oh, I am not sure that I can help you with that version.

Yes, you are correct, their subscription is expensive, but I by permanent licences (for all my PC’s)
A Fences5 permanent licence would cost you around $35 US Dollars

I would suggest you post on the forum.

This is the forum section you need to post in.


To speed up the response, you are best to follow a similar format as below.

---

Fences version:
Windows version and build: Windows 11 Home Build

“Detailed” description of the problem you are facing.
Monitor setup
Problem with Fences resizing (Shouldn’t be happening)
Fences are locked.
Any extra details.
Be to the point.

---

But for now (hoping it’s the same for Fences3). Can you please:
Open Fences and go to "Backups"
Check the following:

Yeah, $35 is out of my budget at the moment, lol. Just got back from a 2 week vacation and my wallet weeps.

Its set up differently for 3, but I found the section you wanted me to go to. I do have a backup snapshot that was taken for the last 3 days (just did a manual one as well). I switched to the per-screen selection. Maybe its as simple as that? I'll give it a bit and see.

Doesnt explain the issues with the icons outside the fences moving though. Or do you think it does?

ACWN_Designs said:

Doesnt explain the issues with the icons outside the fences moving though. Or do you think it does?

Click to expand...

To my knowledge, Fences takes care of all icons/shortcuts. So if you take a snapshot of your desktop and icons are in a particular place (Outside of a Fence) They should return to where you put them when the snapshot is restored.

I could show you how to make a registry backup of Fences to place on your desktop, which when applying would return things to normal without having to go into Fences, but you shouldn't have to and what is happening sounds like a bug, if not the monitor settings in Fences.
Also, the registry will be different but we could sort that. Again, you shouldn't have to.

The other possibility is that the Monitors are causing the issue. Without going into detail, yet.

Are your graphics drivers up to date?

antspants said:

To my knowledge, Fences takes care of all icons/shortcuts. So if you take a snapshot of your desktop and icons are in a particular place (Outside of a Fence) They should return to where you put them when the snapshot is restored.

Click to expand...

Which is weird cause all 3 snapshots that I have show everything where its supposed to be yet it keeps wigging out and tossing everything around. So maybe it was the monitor settings since up until a couple days ago, I was only using the one monitor and didnt think I needed to change anything settings wise for Fences.

Are your graphics drivers up to date?

Click to expand...

I thought they were but apparently there was a release while I was gone. I just updated it and restarted.

If monitor two isn’t being recognised until after Fences has loaded, Fences will throw all your Fences onto Monitor one. Which has been an experience I have had before.
Also after a graphics driver update, Fences can be moved and restoring the snapshot puts them back in place.

I keep one snapshot. Clicking on that snapshot gives me an option to retake the snapshot (updating it) at most I have two snapshots. You should be able to rename a snapshot. I call mine KEEP, or something trivial.

Hopefully, switching between per screen or per monitor might fix it

Thats the thing, the set up you see in the screenshot above is my main monitor. Monitor 1 is my big one and where I keep all my icons and fences. My second monitor is basically just a back up so I can watch videos while I'm drawing or need to pull up info while gaming.

Unless my system is reading the HDMI (2nd monitor) first and the displayport cable (main monitor) second and thats where the issue is coming from. If thats the case, theres not much I can do since my small monitor is old and only has an HDMI and VGA port. I'd have to get an adapter for it.

But yes, fingers crossed the per screen fixes the issue!

ACWN_Designs said:

Unless my system is reading the HDMI (2nd monitor) first and the displayport cable (main monitor) second and thats where the issue is coming from.

Click to expand...

That’s kind of above my paygrade.

I honestly think that your best chance is posting on the Fences forum.
In the details, add everything you’ve learned so far. keep it to the point.
The weirdest part to me is the “locked” Fences resizing, that has to be a bug.