Windows 10: Desktop icons keep rearranging after dock/undock

I have a Dell laptop and a Dell external monitor. I am running Windows 10 version 1607 build 14393.1884
I have seen other posts about this but nothing recent. I am new to using a laptop with a second monitor. Every time I dock or undock the laptop, the desktop icons rearrange themselves. I have autoarrange off and have tried toggling "display desktop icons".

Was this issue every actually fixed? Or just something we have to live with. Its a big waste of time to arrange my icon on the big external monitor only to have them change after an undock/dock cycle. Also, when I undock, the icon location are very different on the laptop builtin screen.

Is there a way to have two desktops that don't change, one for the external monitor when docked and one of the built-in when undocked?

:)

 

display characteristics switching between dock and undocked

Just purchased Surface 4 a week ago and went through the hardware upgrade at the Microsoft Store. I am having a refresh issue moving between the dock and undocking. Here is what happens and a current workaround:

1. Using undocked, display font sizes and windows look good.

2. Plug in the dock with external Dell monitor, the icons are super big and the scale is all off for IE and other programs. It doesn't seem to recognize the native resolution of the external monitor, yet when checking display properties it is accurate.

3. Sign out of user settings

4. Sign back in

5. Display properties correctly scale and icons, IE all scale correctly.

It also incorrectly works the other way:

1. with the SF4 docked, everything looks good

2. Undock, and the icons are miniscule. Can barely see IE favorites or desktop icons on the screen. Working with display settings for icon, toolbars does nothing.

3. Sign out of user settings

4. sign back in

5. Display properties correctly scale for Surface being undocked

Please tell me I don't need to do this workaround for ever

Thanks.

 

advanced sizing of text and other items resets whenever resolution changes

Our workplace has gone to surface pro 4s. They are designed (education) to be docked/undocked regularly.

My problem is that changing the text size via 'advanced sizing of text and other items' so that everything isn't 9pt (too small for my aging eyes) resets anytime the resolution changes. (As does the position of any desktop icon...I know that Microsoft is
not smart enough to fix this problem as it has been an issue in every version of their software despite LOTS of requests and complaints to fix it.)

Because of the nature of how we use them, the resolution changes every time we dock/undock as we project during a teaching lesson.

UGH! How can I keep this from happening.

Please don't suggest adding additional software...we cannot add software.

 

When you dock and use a full-size monitor the resolution might be 1920x1080.
In that state, let's assume you have icons all over the desktop.

Now undock the laptop. In this mode the display resolution might be 1600x900.
In this situation any x-axis coordinate above 1600 no longer exists.
And any y-axis coordinate above 900 no longer exists.

So any icon that had been in those locations must be moved in order to keep them on screen.
Windows moves them around into seemingly random locations. You cannot prevent that.

However, you can use a program (such as Icon Restorer) to record the location of your desktop icons.

In full 1920x1080 mode ... push your icons into "nice" places and then "record" their locations using Icon Restorer. He will remember icons locations for this 1920x1080 screen. (One button click.)

Undock into 1600x900 mode ... fix the now-scrambled icons into "nice" places and then "record" their locations using Icon Restorer. He will remember icons locations for this 1600x900 screen. (One button click.)

Thereafter ... whenever you go from dock to undock (or vice versa) just "restore" the remembered icon positions using Icon Restorer. (One button click.)

 

The reason you don't see many post anymore is not because its been fixed, its just that most users that see this problem, have taken alternate solutions. IE: backing up their desktop icon positions via 3rd party software. Its been broke, MS will never fix it so the best solution is to backup the locations and when Windoz decides to re-org them, you can restore to the previous locations. Lots of programs out there I use "DeskTopOK" it works.

Have a Great DAY !

 

ok. I have Desktop OK loaded and it seems to work great. Thanks for the tips.