Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Andrez
Date: 05 Aug 14 - 07:23 AM

Bob Schwarer's tip above is what I do to solve the icons problem too. Give it a shot!

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: JHW
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 07:51 PM

The regular message that 'you have unused icons' was always a silly nuisance. The icons are there precisely for things I might need one day so I don't have to wonder where the hell to look for them. Should be a no brainer even for a robot.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 07:41 PM

Garg, why would anyone... willingly... *not* update any system produced by Microsoft? You know what a security swiss-cheese it is. When a machine works perfectly, don't fix it. Right. And when it doesn't, do.

A couple of the programmes essential to my work won't run on Linux. So it's not relevant either to the world I share or the one that I inhabit all by my little self.

Of course I keep backups. On three external HD's, four stick-drives, printed hard copy, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Doesn't really solve the annoyance of disappearing desktop shortcuts, though.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: bob schwarer
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 07:19 PM

Right click on an empty space on your desktop. Go to "view". Make sure "show desktop icons" is selected. "Auto arrange" and "align icons to grid" should probably not be selected.
Go to "View" I don't have anything selected.

Works for me. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 07:13 PM

Why would anyone....willingly....update a stable system?

When a machine works perfectly, don't fix it. Shut-off updates.

Unfortunately, you willingly fell into the world shared by mudcat member B.S.

My recommendation:
1. Copy all essential documents to an off-machine location (3 minimum)
2. Purchase a new "clean" machine.
3. Install a Lynux system.
4. Use the essential documents as required. (it is doubtful you will access more than .001% Like the single sided 260 floppy, what you think essential today, will look useless in the next decade.)

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 05:50 PM

PS: Turn your automatic updates back on. That's something different. (Oh, how I miss John In Kansas...)

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 05:48 PM

Yeah. It eats shortcuts. It's part of their maintenance-manager feature (I can't recall Windows' name for it) and you'd better not disable it because then you'll also be without security aspects that you definitely want. I haven't lost actual folders of stuff, just shortcut icons, so I created a folder on the desktop and keep "spares" in that, so I can copy them back out when they go. And they do. I sat there and watched the effing thing gobble them right in front of me - a whole row (I use shortcuts a lot) just disappeared before my disbelieving-and-very-pissed-off eyes. And I had just finished using a number of them, so Microsoft's fantasy about house-cleaning unwanted icons is exactly that. No matter WHAT you do, they are going to go walkies periodically. More here.* I feel your pain.

* Tech: Windows 7 Disappearing desktop shortcuts

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 03:56 PM

Have never had this problem, but Desktop Restore is recommended by many.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 03:34 PM

Do you see a periodic little message bubble in the lower right of the window that asks to clean up your icons? It used to be a regular thing in XP, and probably exists in 7 if you let it.

You might right click on a blank area of the desktop or right click on that bottom status bar and see if there is some option to lock icons. It may insist in organizing them before locking them.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Bert
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 02:23 PM

Thanks Glenn.

No, I thought that it maybe something to do with automatic updates so I turned them off. But it didn't help.

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:26 PM

Of course if you're not on a laptop...
Are there programs you are using that switch the screen resolution? That seems to be at the root of my projector issue. -G

Subject: RE: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: GUEST,highlandman at work
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:20 PM

Do you by chance use your computer with a projector at times? This happens every time I switch between the monitor on my desk (docked) and the internal laptop screen, and worse when I hook up to a projector for a presentation. I haven't found the cure yet.
-Glenn

Subject: Tech: Windows is buggering up my desktop?
From: Bert
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:06 PM

I'm running Windows 7 and it keeps rearranging my desktop and has now started removing icons.