Weird W10 Desktop Icon behavior

My desktop is a work in progress. We put many things there and then
move them after using the file. However, the strange part in W10 is
that sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears. If you use File Explorer and go to the desktop, it is there
and you can open it, etc., but it's still not showing on the desktop.
Then sometime later, maybe hours later, it appears. Yesterday, it put
it in the upper left hand corner, a place that I always keep a specific
icon called Powerdown. And while I'm complaining about W10 icons, it is
constantly moving icons, which drives me nuts. Anyone else see these
problems? Especially the first one?

Todesco wrote:

sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.

Focus on the desktop, then press F5 ?

Andy Burns wrote:

Todesco wrote:

sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.

Focus on the desktop, then press F5 ?


Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5 when files are moved|created by a process NOT File Explorer.

Examples: I have some perl scripts that generate a report or log file
temporarily on the desktop for review, or if I download a file with a
web browser to the desktop instead of the default Downloads dir...

In the above examples the files will show within Explorer under the path
C:\Users\USER\Desktop but sometimes not display on the Desktop without a
manual F5 refresh.

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

On 2020-05-29 8:57 a.m., Jonathan N. Little wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:

Todesco wrote:

sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.

Focus on the desktop, then press F5 ?


Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5 when files are moved|created by a process NOT File Explorer.

Examples: I have some perl scripts that generate a report or log file
temporarily on the desktop for review, or if I download a file with a
web browser to the desktop instead of the default Downloads dir...

In the above examples the files will show within Explorer under the path
C:\Users\USER\Desktop but sometimes not display on the Desktop without a
manual F5 refresh.


Having to "refresh" a window to get the up-to-date contents...

....how quaint!

On 29/05/2020 16:57, Jonathan N. Little wrote:

Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5


You have done absolutely nothing about it or seek help to resolve it.

For example, did you try to delete the file called: "IconCache.db"Â* and
then logout and login to your windows account?Â* This will recreate the
file automatically.Â*Â* This is just one solution but I doubt you'll ever
folllow this method. It is one of the best tried and tested solution
around the globe given by yours truly!.




--
With over 1.2 billion devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

Alan Baker wrote:
On 2020-05-29 8:57 a.m., Jonathan N. Little wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:

Todesco wrote:

sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.

Focus on the desktop, then press F5 ?

Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5 when files are moved|created by a process NOT File Explorer.

Examples: I have some perl scripts that generate a report or log file
temporarily on the desktop for review, or if I download a file with a
web browser to the desktop instead of the default Downloads dir...

In the above examples the files will show within Explorer under the path
C:\Users\USER\Desktop but sometimes not display on the Desktop without a
manual F5 refresh.

Having to "refresh" a window to get the up-to-date contents...

...how quaint!

Well, the Desktop is not "a window", but more importantly, the
(primary) File Explorer (actually 'Windows Explorer') process actually
manages the Desktop [1], so it's not unreasonable to expect changes in
File Explorer to reflect on the Desktop.

So it maybe your lack of insight which is "quaint"!

[1] Just 'Restart' the main 'Windows Explorer' process and see what
happens.

On 2020-05-29 11:05 a.m., Frank Slootweg wrote:
Alan Baker wrote:
On 2020-05-29 8:57 a.m., Jonathan N. Little wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:

Todesco wrote:

sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.

Focus on the desktop, then press F5 ?

Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5 when files are moved|created by a process NOT File Explorer.

Examples: I have some perl scripts that generate a report or log file
temporarily on the desktop for review, or if I download a file with a
web browser to the desktop instead of the default Downloads dir...

In the above examples the files will show within Explorer under the path
C:\Users\USER\Desktop but sometimes not display on the Desktop without a
manual F5 refresh.

Having to "refresh" a window to get the up-to-date contents...

...how quaint!

Well, the Desktop is not "a window", but more importantly, the
(primary) File Explorer (actually 'Windows Explorer') process actually
manages the Desktop [1], so it's not unreasonable to expect changes in
File Explorer to reflect on the Desktop.

So it maybe your lack of insight which is "quaint"!

[1] Just 'Restart' the main 'Windows Explorer' process and see what
happens.


I understand that the Desktop as being discussed is not actually a window.

But it is a special case of "places where icons for files and folders
can be displayed"...

....and on the Mac, those have all worked properly since only about...


....1984.

The Finder has never NEEDED a "Refresh" command.

Frank Slootweg wrote:
Alan Baker wrote:
On 2020-05-29 8:57 a.m., Jonathan N. Little wrote:
Andy Burns wrote:
Todesco wrote:

sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.
Focus on the desktop, then press F5 ?
Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5 when files are moved|created by a process NOT File Explorer.

Examples: I have some perl scripts that generate a report or log file
temporarily on the desktop for review, or if I download a file with a
web browser to the desktop instead of the default Downloads dir...

In the above examples the files will show within Explorer under the path
C:\Users\USER\Desktop but sometimes not display on the Desktop without a
manual F5 refresh.
Having to "refresh" a window to get the up-to-date contents...

...how quaint!

Well, the Desktop is not "a window", but more importantly, the
(primary) File Explorer (actually 'Windows Explorer') process actually
manages the Desktop [1], so it's not unreasonable to expect changes in
File Explorer to reflect on the Desktop.

So it maybe your lack of insight which is "quaint"!

[1] Just 'Restart' the main 'Windows Explorer' process and see what
happens.

The "refresh bugs", as a class, have been around for a long time.

Microsoft appears to have fixed the problems individually, and
some poor developer must have spent years tracking the stuff down.
It went from "epidemic!" to "kinda sorta fixed" over the years.

I would not want to declare "fresh epidemic!" until Art Todesco
has at least tried F5 a few times, and concluded it really does
take an F5 to accelerate recognition.

It it's taking a long time (but eventually the icons show up),
then some software process could be timing out, and some
process with a much longer interval is doing cleanup.

The idea is pretty simple. The file system is journaled, and
every time a file changes, processes or threads "registered"
with the journal, are informed "something changed". The registered
pieces of software, have to apply a filter, to decide whether the
event is needed for something they're doing right now. The
desktop icons could be coming from two or more folders, so what
you're seeing is a composed view.

Because these problems are not fixed by "a better implementation",
like a new journal concept, it means if any of those 7000 developers
today, do not follow the canon of "File Explorer Laws", another one
of these F5 bugs could show up. I'm pretty sure they have code
reviews... they must have code reviews, right ? Shudder
They don't have a QA department, so there better be
code reviews.

Paul

😉 Good Guy 😉 wrote:
On 29/05/2020 16:57, Jonathan N. Little wrote:

Yes I have found that the desktop does not always update without an
manual F5


You have done absolutely nothing about it or seek help to resolve it.

Well I will regret this...


For example, did you try to delete the file called: "IconCache.db"

Yes, but it is not an icon caching issue.

and then logout and login to your windows account?
That is about as helpful as Windows-Cure-All-Fix: Reboot. The issue is
it shouldn't happen. It's a bug.

This will recreate the file automatically. This is just one
solution but I doubt you'll ever folllow this method. It is one of
the best tried and tested solution around the globe given by yours
truly!.
It is not that that file does not get created, nor that is does not show
in Explorer, it is that the "special" folder that Windows uses as the
Desktop at times does not get the signal that a file has been created
and therefore does not repaint the desktop.

BTW this can also happen in the other "special" folders, the Libraries,
Documents, Music, Pictures, etc. If you access via the Library path the
file is missing but if you look via the "real" path it will be present.
The issue originally occurred with the introduction of the aggregate
folder "Library" was introduced. No such issue in Windows XP and
earlier. Also the complaint has been posted in Windows support forums
for years...

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

On 5/29/2020 7:53 AM, Todesco wrote:
My desktop is a work in progress.Â* We put many things there and then
move them after using the file.Â* However, the strange part in W10 is
that sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.Â* If you use File Explorer and go to the desktop, it is there
and you can open it, etc., but it's still not showing on the desktop.
Then sometime later, maybe hours later, it appears.Â* Yesterday, it put
it in the upper left hand corner, a place that I always keep a specific
icon called Powerdown.Â* And while I'm complaining about W10 icons, it is
constantly moving icons, which drives me nuts.Â* Anyone else see these
problems?Â* Especially the first one?

sometimes I see files in "C:/Users/..." folders but not in "This PC" folders

--
Minister Dale Kelly, Ph.D.
https://www.dalekelly.org/
Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner
Board Certified Alternative Medical Practitioner

On 5/29/2020 7:53 AM, Todesco wrote:
My desktop is a work in progress.Â* We put many things there and then
move them after using the file.Â* However, the strange part in W10 is
that sometimes a file gets written to the desktop, but the icon never
appears.Â* If you use File Explorer and go to the desktop, it is there
and you can open it, etc., but it's still not showing on the desktop.
Then sometime later, maybe hours later, it appears.Â* Yesterday, it put
it in the upper left hand corner, a place that I always keep a specific
icon called Powerdown.Â* And while I'm complaining about W10 icons, it is
constantly moving icons, which drives me nuts.Â* Anyone else see these
problems?Â* Especially the first one?
Thanks to all that replied. Next time it comes up, it's F5.