Dots at bottom of screen

[ejk8626]

I have a dual monitor setup and I just noticed that there are four dots centered along the bottom of the screen just above the taskbar. The only time they are visible is when I have my mouse on the left  side of the left monitor or right side of the right monitor and inadvertently drag the cursor a bit. As soon as I release the mouse button the dots disappear.

I have attached a  a picture of what I see during the inadvertent drag.

I believe the dots signify multiple desktops, but I do not know how they got there. I also don't know how to move between them to recover some missing desktop icons. 


I am missing some desktop icons and I suspect that somehow the missing icons are trapped on one of the other screens. How do I get to them without destroying the layout of icons on my primary screen?

How do I keep this from happening again? Can I somehow delete the unseen desktops?

Any guidance or info will be most appreciated.

Thanks.

Please note that I just added a better screen shot of the issue.

[Boggin]

I don't know what the four dots signify.

Do they appear with only one monitor switched on ?

Can you right click on the taskbar and select Task Manager/Users which may show if more than one profile is being used.

Read through this article on how to reset the Icon Cache - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5645-rebuild-icon-cache-windows-10-a.html

[ejk8626]

Hi, Tom.


Thanks for the info.


The article you referenced does not appear to deal with my issue.


Right now, I need both monitors on, but later today, I'll switch the smaller one off to see if the "dots" go away.


Stay tuned...


Ed

[Boggin]

Did you use the Batch file in the article to reset your Icon Cache and if so, did it restore any ?

[ejk8626]

No. I have DL it, but I haven't had time to play with it yet.

[Boggin]

Let me know if it restores your icons.

[ejk8626]

Tom,


I tried something earlier today. I clicked on my mouse at the left edge of the left monitor and dragged it as far to the right as possible. Lo and behold, there were my missing icons on a part of the screen that I could not see before the drag. I then dragged each of the missing icons as far left as I could and then dragged the screens to the left until I was back at my "main" screen. I was then able to reposition my "missing" icons.


Now that I have nothing on those extra screens, the four dots have also disappeared. I cannot drag my screen to the left or right any more.


My question is, how did those "extra" screens show up?


Ed


PS: Never did get to use that batch file.

[Boggin]

I haven't a clue.

I'll email jpm to see if he's come across anything like this before.

I've seen on Google where the icons have moved to the extended monitor but not sure if that applies to you.

This is the article I came across, although I only read the first page - https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/desktop-icons-move-from-main-screen-to-extended/7d066555-badd-4fc9-92ba-c5e05eb6a06e

[ejk8626]

Thanks, Tom.


i read the article you referenced, but it was not applicable to my setup (desktop with multiple monitors vs. laptop with external monitor). I think that fellow is having a problem because his laptop thinks that when the external monitor is active, it should be the No. 1 monitor regardless of his settings. But that is just my off-the-cuff thought.


Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts. Who is "jpm"?


Ed

[Boggin]

jpm (Jim) is an admin and co-owner of the Tweaking.com website and is very experienced.

You may occasionally see him on line with his name in red as is Shane's when he comes onto the forum.

Unfortunately, he may take a while to respond.

[ejk8626]

Thanks.