disappearing desktop icons

new folders or files are off screen

from Stardock Forums

I'm on v3 of Fences, I tried using Desktop Pages feature, found it too frustrating and turned it off. Now, even though it's off, anytime I do a "Save as" in any program or right-click on the desktop to create a new folder, it disappears from the two monitor screens I've got open. The only way to find the file or folder is to open the desktop as a folder. Enormously frustrating. I can't figure out how to get newly-created or copy/pasted items to stay on the two visible screens — which should be the ONLY screens if I've disabled the Desktop Pages feature, right? It's like as if that feature is still activated and is dumping them onto some hidden desktop screen. :-( 

fences
9,696 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need more information on your system and issue.

  1. You on Windows 7,8,10 or 11? Also need, Windows full version number. Use Winver.exe to get it.
  2. Fences 3 version number.
  3. Please post a video on your issue so we can see and understand the issue better.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

win 10.  ver is 22H2 build 19045.2251.  Fence is 3.1.3.3.   

I'm packing to leave on a trip, so I don't have time to make a video right now. But here's repro:

1. Via Windows Explorer window view of the desktop, I can see files and folders that are not visible on either of my two screens. 

2. I click and drag the file from the Windows Explorer window to my visible desktop. 

3. It appears for a second and then suddenly disappears from the visible desktop.  

 

So it is still technically on the desktop, but only visible within a window view of the desktop, as though Stardock for Windows is trying to seek out what they think is the main screen and defaults to moving it into this unseen screen. 

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Okay, my guess is that some of your fences has move off screen, top or bottom edge. Can you try to the Layouot snapshots restore? Use the earliest date available. If nothing work, use the "First Use Snapshot" or "Pre-install Snapshot" both should reset back your layout. You will need to recreate all your fences. Also it best to make a good layout snapshot once you have done all your layout.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Layouot snapshots restore did not work.  Where do i find "First Use Snapshot" or "Pre-install Snapshot" so i can try that?  thanks. 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Actually, never mind; I solve the problem. Turns out all the missing icons were on the visible desktop but hidden underneath one of my fences the whole time! I accidentally move the fence, and there they were, cowering.

To make a lasting solution, I created a new fence on the desktop to serve as a kind of holding tank, and then used the Fences setting that allows anything being downloaded to the desktop to go into a specific fence. So now they will always be there in the "holding tank" fence where I can easily see them and then later drag them where I want them. 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, what you did is what I would suggest in this situation. Glad you solved your issue.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I've had that problem, too. But sometimes when my USB data drive isn't connected at bootup, I lose the desktop icons linked to files on that drive. How can I keep icons, even if the link is temporarily cut? I also found that even if the data drive is connected and the link is active, if I do a disk check with Norton or Fix It, the icons disappear and don't come back after the disk check. I also found that restoring a desktop snapshot doesn't work. I use Windows 10 with Fences 3.1. I am running Windows in a Virtual Machine on a Mac using Parallels. By the way, I didn't use to have this problem. Any advice?

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ewmergele, reply 7

I've had that problem, too. But sometimes when my USB data drive isn't connected at bootup, I lose the desktop icons linked to files on that drive. How can I keep icons, even if the link is temporarily cut? I also found that even if the data drive is connected and the link is active, if I do a disk check with Norton or Fix It, the icons disappear and don't come back after the disk check. I also found that restoring a desktop snapshot doesn't work. I use Windows 10 with Fences 3.1. I am running Windows in a Virtual Machine on a Mac using Parallels. By the way, I didn't use to have this problem. Any advice?
End of ewmergele's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try this guide: https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#folderportalsempty

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.