DisplayFusion RSS: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/RSS/?TopicID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e DisplayFusion RSS: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:56:04 GMT en hourly 1 https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/RSS/?TopicID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#10 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 19:19:56 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#10 DisplayFusion
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I was able to remove the icons and stop it happening (well up to now at least) by unloading WindowBlinds. This may be just luck and I cannot explain why but for now at least.....
I will report it in the WinCustomize forums and see if anyone has come across it there and more importantly do they have a way to stop it once and for all.


I have never used Windows Blinds. fwiw. :-) ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#9 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 17:44:36 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#9 DisplayFusion I was able to remove the icons and stop it happening (well up to now at least) by unloading WindowBlinds. This may be just luck and I cannot explain why but for now at least.....
I will report it in the WinCustomize forums and see if anyone has come across it there and more importantly do they have a way to stop it once and for all. ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#8 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 15:57:50 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#8 DisplayFusion I'll keep an eye on this and if I come across a solution as well, I will definitely make sure to post it :)

Thanks! ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#7 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 08:26:55 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#7 DisplayFusion
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Like I said, I dont think DF is the cause, at least not on my system.


I agree, of course as mentioned.

"Hi Alan. yes you are correct of course, it may not be associated with DF."

Anyway the issue us here now, maybe some will have come across it and have an idea. ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#6 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 08:22:11 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#6 DisplayFusion
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That's super weird, I can't even imagine how that's possible! They must be cached somewhere in Windows, and maybe when we load the monitor config it's triggering this. When they show up, can you click on them and open them? Or are they just dead icons?


Hi Keith, Thanks for your reply.

I have searched in many places for the relevant cache etc. with no luck yet. Also searched Google etc. for the symptoms. No luck there yet either.

The icons sometimes stay on the desktop long enough to be clicked on but they are, as you say just dead icons. Any attempted interaction with them just gets an error as if they are already deleted, (which I guess they are).


Like I said, I dont think DF is the cause, at least not on my system. I use WindowBlinds and Winstep and thought the cause was maybe to do with one of them but as its a thing that only happens now and again its difficult for me to track. Pressing F5 gets rid of them and a restart does too so just one of those things I guess.
They are, on my system, dead icons and not even a file unlocker can trace them. ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#5 Tue, 11 Aug 2020 07:48:51 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#5 DisplayFusion
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That's super weird, I can't even imagine how that's possible! They must be cached somewhere in Windows, and maybe when we load the monitor config it's triggering this. When they show up, can you click on them and open them? Or are they just dead icons?


Hi Keith, Thanks for your reply.

I have searched in many places for the relevant cache etc. with no luck yet. Also searched Google etc. for the symptoms. No luck there yet either.

The icons sometimes stay on the desktop long enough to be clicked on but they are, as you say just dead icons. Any attempted interaction with them just gets an error as if they are already deleted, (which I guess they are). ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#4 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 21:07:47 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#4 DisplayFusion That's super weird, I can't even imagine how that's possible! They must be cached somewhere in Windows, and maybe when we load the monitor config it's triggering this. When they show up, can you click on them and open them? Or are they just dead icons? ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#3 Sun, 09 Aug 2020 05:58:37 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#3 DisplayFusion
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I have a version of that from time to time but never associated it with DF. Upto now the best I can achieve is to press the F5 key to hide them. I am searching for a fix, if anyone comes across something then please post it so we can all benefit from your findings.


Hi Alan. yes you are correct of course, it may not be associated with DF. It is only that since I started using multi monitors again I also started using DF straight away.

I don't recall ever seeing this when using normal Windows monitor switching in the past though. ]]> RE: Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#2 Sat, 08 Aug 2020 13:53:52 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e#2 DisplayFusion I have a version of that from time to time but never associated it with DF. Upto now the best I can achieve is to press the F5 key to hide them. I am searching for a fix, if anyone comes across something then please post it so we can all benefit from your findings. ]]> Old Desktop Icons Appear when Changing Monitor Settings https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e Sat, 08 Aug 2020 11:04:54 GMT Binary Fortress Software https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/old-desktop-icons-appear-when-changing-monitor-settings/?ID=06bdeb35-4098-49fb-a350-d4113caa809e DisplayFusion Hi there,

I have a very odd issue. I have 3 monitor profiles: 1 is my main monitor only. 1 is extend to HD TV. 1 is Mirror to HD TV. All work great.

However, every time I change profiles I am seeing some old desktop icons appear for a second or so on the left of my screen.

These are old folders or files that do not exist any more. And have not existed for a long time. And never existed all together at once. In fact for a number of months, I have kept my desktop completely empty.

I have made an animated GIF that demonstrates the issue. I have only recorded my main monitor. I left it full size so it is clear.

I am using the latest beta of DF. (I tried with the stable version too).
I also cleared the desktop.ini file in case there was anything there. And removed the thumbs.db file.

This had no effect.

Has anyone seen this? It is not a huge issue but a little annoying especially when I have people with me and they are asking what are those icons. etc.

Thank you. ]]>