Fences 3 on Windows 10 - Icons Disappearing from Fences, but still on Desktop

from Stardock Forums

I have a User testing Fences 3 and over the last 2 weeks she has had 2 or 3 icons disappear from within Fences.  When she would recreate them they would have a 2 added to the end (ie. - the shortcuts already existed somewhere on her Desktop).  When we opened File Explorer and looked at her Desktop the missing shortcuts and the new ones she created were all listed.

 

I went through every setting in the Fences Menu and found nothing that would cause this issue, nor could I locate the Icons on her Desktop inside or outside a fence.

 

Has anyone else run into this?

 

Thanks.

fences
127,791 views 27 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I have the same problem. It's a separate issue from the autohide feature / solution linked above, by ZubaZ (thank you though for the response).  I have select shortcuts (not all of them) that are missing on the desktop, but when I navigate to the desktop folder in file explorer, they are there.  I do use the autohide feature, and like it.  This is different though.

CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I have the same fault reported by two commenters.

- The shortcut can be found in the Desktop folder with File Explorer, but does not appear on the Desktop in its Fence.

- I cut-and-pasted the short cut from the Desktop folder to another folder, and then back to the desktop. The pasted shortcut then appeared on the Desktop again.

 

The fault is rare. I can see nothing distinctive about the shortcut by inspecting its Properties. I can think of no way to reproduce the fault.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I had the same problem starting yesterday, and was able to get my fences and their contents to reappear on the desktop by toggling on/off the "enable fences" and quick hide enablement checkboxes a few times. I don't know if the workaround will keep the problem from recurring, but for now it seems okay. Hope this helps!

 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

What versions of Windows and Fences do you have with this problem

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Possibly related problem.

When removing a drive (only seen this with USB flash drives so far), a blank modal window will appear with no window control elements (close, min, max buttons) or gui elements (no menu, rubbon, files). It's an explorer.exe window with no way to interact or hide, beyond dragging the top window frame. It can be closed by hovering over the taskbar and closing with the preview view close button.

When I close this oddball window, all the desktop icons disappear until I restart explorer, while the fences are still visible and the icons are still available when navigating within explorer. I tried:

- Double clicking desktop (Fences's hide desktop icons feature)
- Disabling/enabling Fences, hide desktop icons, paging feature

The one catch might be that I have QTTabbar installed, which hooks into explorer to do things like tabs and multiple panes. I've seen it do some freaky stuff when folders suddenly become unavailable, but I've never had the desktop icons disappear because of it.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sounds like 3rd party software could be the problem .. I would start there uninstall tabbar and see if fences ok . if not try purge fences and re install from your Stardock Account using OD Manager loading fences 3.08 latest version.

If that worked re think using tabbar .

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

I have been experiencing this disappearing icon problem, and also have noticed they are still in the Desktop Folder as seen in Explorer, and are active when clicked. 

Missing icons reappear on rebooting.

This has been going on for about a year.  Platform:  Win 10 Pro 64 bit, with MS Office Pro.  Commodo Antivirus and Firewall.

 

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AlanTRT, reply 8

I have been experiencing this disappearing icon problem, and also have noticed they are still in the Desktop Folder as seen in Explorer, and are active when clicked.

Missing icons reappear on rebooting.

This has been going on for about a year. Platform: Win 10 Pro 64 bit, with MS Office Pro. Commodo Antivirus and Firewall.
End of AlanTRT's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please check if the icons is missing just because it is moved to another Desktop Pages. You can simply disable Desktop pages to bring everything back. Try it and report back.

Thank you.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello Basj,

 I will attempt to do what you suggest when the next “happening” occurs.

 One thing I omitted to advise, is that the various “Fences” were still in place.  It is the contents that did their magic vanishing act.

 

 Thanks,

 Alan.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting AlanTRT, reply 10

One thing I omitted to advise, is that the various “Fences” were still in place. It is the contents that did their magic vanishing act.
End of AlanTRT's quote

That is strange. Could you post a video when it happened again.

Thank you,

Basj
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm having the same problem as AlanTRT. Here is a screenshot. I just updated Windows 10 to the latest 1909 build (18363.657), and I still have the same Fences problem. I unchecked the "enable Fences" box and rechecked it. No change. 

Suggestions are most welcome. I'd hate to lose Fences!

 

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Double-clicking on my fence title bar doesn't cause the fence to roll up. It just causes a quick-hide for all of my fences. If that helps. 

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I am facing the same problem, I had select shortcuts  that are missing on the desktop But they are in other folders.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello sfrantz32 and Leo78,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need to know more on your system.

1) Windows version, please use winver.exe for full version numbers.

2) Fences version.

3) Display/monitor/s setups : please post details on your monitor/s setup, ie. Resolution, scaling, connection type (DVI, DP, HDMI, USB etc etc)

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Was this ever fixed or have a solution?  I just purchased this and this morning I created a new fence and when i moved my icons in there all my other icons from my other fences disappeared.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting brownme84th, reply 16

Was this ever fixed or have a solution?  I just purchased this and this morning I created a new fence and when i moved my icons in there all my other icons from my other fences disappeared.
End of brownme84th's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. This issues usually differ from system to system, it best to work on your system and see what is the issue on your system. First need to know more on your issue.

  1. Windows version, please use winver.exe for full version numbers.
  2. Fences version.
  3. Display/monitor/s setups : please post details on your monitor/s setup, ie. Resolution, scaling, connection type (DVI, DP, HDMI, USB etc etc)

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

I didn't have time to wait on this to get fixed so I just restored the prior image and moved each file into my new fence one at a time.  It is a bit annoying and I hope it doesn't happen again.  This was the second time for me.  The first time a restart resolved the issue. This time i restarted 3 times with no luck so just did the restore.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Same problem here...

All my icons disapear of my desktop BUT the files are in desktop folder...

I uninstall completely Fence, I restart and my icons still hidden !!!!!

 

Please help !

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Just an FYI that Fences 3.12 Beta was released today.

For all the details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/506115

We are very much looking forward to your feedback there.

Thanks,

 


AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

I am using Fences 3 with Win 10 Pro and find that several Icons disappear from within Fences. When I recreate them, they have a 2 added to the end (indicating the shortcuts already existed somewhere on my Desktop). When using File Explorer and looking at Desktop, the missing shortcuts and the new ones created are all listed.

I have gone through every setting in the Fences Menu and found nothing that would cause this issue, nor can I locate the Icons on my computer Desktop, inside or outside an existing Fence.

Very frustrating!

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting rw62, reply 22

I am using Fences 3 with Win 10 Pro and find that several Icons disappear from within Fences. When I recreate them, they have a 2 added to the end (indicating the shortcuts already existed somewhere on my Desktop). When using File Explorer and looking at Desktop, the missing shortcuts and the new ones created are all listed.

I have gone through every setting in the Fences Menu and found nothing that would cause this issue, nor can I locate the Icons on my computer Desktop, inside or outside an existing Fence.

Very frustrating!

End of rw62's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, usually those are due to fences or icons were send to different Fences pages and to bring it back you just need to disable Fences pages.


Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

This problem is common.  It happens on and off since I installed Fences 3.  Certain icons randomly appear/disappear.  Not seeing any solution in this age-old thread.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting NickMDal, reply 24

This problem is common.  It happens on and off since I installed Fences 3.  Certain icons randomly appear/disappear.  Not seeing any solution in this age-old thread.
End of NickMDal's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Could you be more specific on your issue? Are the icons missing linked to a network drive? or Sync via Onedrive Desktop Sync? etc?

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.