Is there a hidden file that keeps the desktop organized the way you want?


RAMWolff

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Location
RWC, CA USA
OS
Windows 11
If so I need to find that file and delete it. I have Nexus and it's organizing my icons for me but upon booting up in Windows 11 my desktop is a mess. All the icons are all over on my second monitor and then the system refreshes and they go where they should go between both monitors. I'd really like to start from scratch so I can depend on things looking as they should upon booting into the OS! Right now it's a bit annoying to me! So any help getting this, I'm thinking, ini file deleted so I can start new is what I'd like. I guess if Nexus has one too I'll need for that to be gone as well.

So far I really love the upgrade. Sleek. I was hoping for the Explorer crashy Mccrashy to stop but experienced one of those tonight. I guess it's a bug that will never die! LOL
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPower PC
    CPU
    RYZEN 7 5700G 3.8GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE B550 UD AC
    Memory
    ADATA 8GB DDR4-3200 XPG Z1 4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GEFORCE RTX 3060 GAMING OC 12GB GDDR6 REV 2.1
    Sound Card
    HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    M1-Samsung Smart TV, M2- ViewSonic
    Screen Resolution
    M1-1920X1080 - M2-1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1 Tb SSd (main Windows) 1 SSd external drives and two internal SATA HD's
    PSU
    APEVIA 800WATT GOLD 80 PLUS POWER SUPPLY
    Case
    In-Win G7 w/ USB 3.0, EZ Swap HDD Dock
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Perixx PERIBOARD-331 Wired Backlit USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse
    Internet Speed
    WAVE, highest tier so FAST enough
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    MS
there is a hidden file desktop.ini
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel i9 14900KF
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Creator WiFi
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Vengeance RGB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI 4090 Suprim X
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Asus 24". 1 x Asus 32"
    Hard Drives
    Multiple
    PSU
    Corsair 1200HX
    Case
    Corsair 7000D RGB
    Cooling
    Corsair H150I Capellix XT
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 RGB MK.2
    Mouse
    Corsair M55 RGB Pro
A Two monitor system will assign the Default monitor to the first one to boot and send the acknowledgment to the system whilst it is booting - this is before windows is fully active. This then leads to the system showing the icons on the wrong monitor or in the order. once windows fully finishing its boot routines one of the last things it does is set the icons to their desired position

Try booting the system with the first monitor only active and then switching the second monitor on when Windows has booted

doing this a few times may "train" the system on how to start up, though being honest it is generally a case of training the User .

As an aside you will often see similar layout issues if you change the Icon size on one monitor on a two monitor system or more generally when the two monitors are different Resolution, or when the same resolution but different physical size and so need the screen scaling to be adjusted

Sometimes windows is just too flexible for it's own good :( :wink:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release Preview] [Win11 PRO HighEnd MUP-00005 DD]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Scan 3XS to my design
    CPU
    AMD RYZEN 9 7950X OEM
    Motherboard
    *3XS*ASUS TUF B650 PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    64GB [2x32GB Corsair Vengeance 560 AMD DDR5]
    Graphics Card(s)
    3XS* ASUS DUAL RTX 4060 OC 8G
    Sound Card
    On motherboard Feeding SPDiF 5.1 system [plus local sound to each monitor]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" UHD 32 Bit HDR Monitor + 43" UHD 4K 32Bit HDR TV
    Screen Resolution
    2 x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3XS Samsung 980Pro 2TB M.2 PCIe4 4 x 8TB Data + Various Externals from 1TB to 8TB, 10TB NAS
    PSU
    3XS Corsair RM850x 850w Fully Modular
    Case
    FDesign Define 7 XL BK TGL Case - Black
    Cooling
    3XS iCUE H150i ELITE Liquid Cool, Quiet Case fans
    Keyboard
    Wireless Logitec MX Keys + K830 [Depending on where I'm Sat]
    Mouse
    Wireless Logitec - MX Master 3S +
    Internet Speed
    950 MB Down 55 MB Up
    Browser
    Latest Chrome
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security [Latest]
    Other Info
    Also run...
    Dell XPS 17 Laptop
    HP Laptop 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64 HP 15.2"
    Nexus 7 Android tablet [x2]
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Blackview 10.2 Tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    Samsung S9 Plus Smartphone
    Wacom Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom ExpressKey Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control Pad
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest release]
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 17 9700
    CPU
    i7 10750H
    Motherboard
    Stock
    Memory
    32 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Stock Intel + GTX 1650 Ti
    Sound Card
    Stock 4 speaker
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Stock 17" + 32" 4K 3840 x 2160 HDR-10
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400 HDR touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    2TB M2 NVMe
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock Aluminium / Carbon Fibre
    Cooling
    Stock + 2 fan cooling pad
    Mouse
    Stock Trackpad +Logi Mx Master 3 or MX Ergo Trackball
    Keyboard
    Stock Illuminated + Logi - MX Keys
    Internet Speed
    950 MB Down 55 MB Up
    Browser
    Latest Chrome
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security 2021
    Other Info
    Also use an Adjustable Support for Laptop and Adjustable stand for monitor
Hmmm, OK, seems a bit strange that there is just not a file I can delete and start over completely. I hate all that reboot to this monitor idea and then turn on the other blah blah blah.... I've also discovered that Display Fusion had a hand in all this but with Windows 11 newly easy to set up dual monitor background set up I was able to get that taken care of so now Display Fusion is uninstalled but the icons remain in their default set up. So it's either Winstep Nexus Ultimate (for my program and folder desktop bars and menus) that I think is also trying to have it's say and I don't know how to disable that. I downloaded a little program last night called Icon Shepherd but it didn't really do much to alleviate this annoyance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPower PC
    CPU
    RYZEN 7 5700G 3.8GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE B550 UD AC
    Memory
    ADATA 8GB DDR4-3200 XPG Z1 4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GEFORCE RTX 3060 GAMING OC 12GB GDDR6 REV 2.1
    Sound Card
    HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    M1-Samsung Smart TV, M2- ViewSonic
    Screen Resolution
    M1-1920X1080 - M2-1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1 Tb SSd (main Windows) 1 SSd external drives and two internal SATA HD's
    PSU
    APEVIA 800WATT GOLD 80 PLUS POWER SUPPLY
    Case
    In-Win G7 w/ USB 3.0, EZ Swap HDD Dock
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Perixx PERIBOARD-331 Wired Backlit USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse
    Internet Speed
    WAVE, highest tier so FAST enough
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    MS
Also wanted to ask, do any of you good folks know of a program I can install that will give me the ability to have a way to pin programs and folders so they stay over other's and also perhaps an all in one that would also give me a way to click on an opened window and have it move to the other monitor instantly? These two tools are about the only thing I will miss about Display Fusion!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPower PC
    CPU
    RYZEN 7 5700G 3.8GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE B550 UD AC
    Memory
    ADATA 8GB DDR4-3200 XPG Z1 4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GEFORCE RTX 3060 GAMING OC 12GB GDDR6 REV 2.1
    Sound Card
    HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    M1-Samsung Smart TV, M2- ViewSonic
    Screen Resolution
    M1-1920X1080 - M2-1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1 Tb SSd (main Windows) 1 SSd external drives and two internal SATA HD's
    PSU
    APEVIA 800WATT GOLD 80 PLUS POWER SUPPLY
    Case
    In-Win G7 w/ USB 3.0, EZ Swap HDD Dock
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Perixx PERIBOARD-331 Wired Backlit USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse
    Internet Speed
    WAVE, highest tier so FAST enough
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    MS
I am not familiar with this Nexus you speak of but I am assuming it is Nexus Mods for gaming. Some third party tools and apps just do not Gee-Haw with the OS. Try uninstalling or disabling it. Restart and arrange your desktop manually. Hit F5. Restart again. If your desktop icons stayed the way you arranged them, then the fault is not in the OS.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Nexus is a tool bar app that I use. It wasn't at fault but instead a background image app software that was doing it. Once uninstalled it was fine. with all the background options we have on Win 11 I have no use for that software any more. Thank You
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    CyberPower PC
    CPU
    RYZEN 7 5700G 3.8GHz
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE B550 UD AC
    Memory
    ADATA 8GB DDR4-3200 XPG Z1 4
    Graphics Card(s)
    GIGABYTE GEFORCE RTX 3060 GAMING OC 12GB GDDR6 REV 2.1
    Sound Card
    HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    M1-Samsung Smart TV, M2- ViewSonic
    Screen Resolution
    M1-1920X1080 - M2-1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    1 Tb SSd (main Windows) 1 SSd external drives and two internal SATA HD's
    PSU
    APEVIA 800WATT GOLD 80 PLUS POWER SUPPLY
    Case
    In-Win G7 w/ USB 3.0, EZ Swap HDD Dock
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Perixx PERIBOARD-331 Wired Backlit USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Ergo Wireless Trackball Mouse
    Internet Speed
    WAVE, highest tier so FAST enough
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    MS
Good to know you fixed it. A good rule of thumb in troubleshooting Windows GUI issues is to always first suspect a third party app to be the problem. You can quickly find out by booting into a clean boot. It tells you right quick whether or not the OS has a problem or if it's something the user has installed.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

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