Files saved to desktop not visible until you hit refresh (F5)

Topic

New Reply

Win7 Pro x64/ Dell M4500
Just recently (in the last couple of weeks) any file I save to the desktop does not show up visibly until I hit F5 to refresh the screen. It is a bit annoying when I am researching something and saving a lot of pictures or PDFs and leave before I hit F5.

Any ideas:confused:

Reply | Quote

Replies

That’s Windows 7 for you. It works just like that. It’s my understanding that the described behavior results from an attempt to make the Windows UI more responsive…

The only way I know to get around that is to open task manager, kill all instances of Windows Explorer and then start Windows Explorer again, by choosing File->New Task (Run) and typing explorer.exe and then clicking Ok.

You can also try the instructions on the 1st reply here: http://help.lockergnome.com/windows/Windows-Explorer-automatically-refresh–ftopict561276.html
My experience is that it will happen again. It is recurrent with both my Windows installations – 32 and 64 bits. The problem is much more frequent on the 32 bits version.

Reply | Quote

I had this same exact problem just recently in the last 3 days. I did a complete re-install of Windows 7 (had issues) and just a few days ago, my files weren’t showing up on the desktop. I followed your instructions being sure to follow what you said, and IT WORKS. I did however first check out the disablerefresh.reg file FIRST to make sure it was safe, and felt it was. I then installed it, and rebooted. Problem seems to be solved. I made a bogus file in photoshop and saved it to the desktop and it showed up immediately. Thank you!

Reply | Quote

Glad you got it sorted Michele – it makes a change for me to help someone on this forum, after all the help I’ve received in the past 🙂

Reply | Quote

I also try to help people when I can. I have never taken my computer in for repairs….I have always resolved issues myself, usually by taking the time to research the issue. When I do a complete reinstall, its not because I can’t fix the problem, its because I feel I’ve spend enough time doing the research and know a reinstall is probably best. :0) I’m pretty tech-saavy myself but there are always those who know what I don’t know, but willing to ask questions or search the web.

Reply | Quote

Save your files to a folder on the desktop and avoid the mess.

Reply | Quote

Save your files to a folder on the desktop and avoid the mess.

This is an explorer issue, will affect all folders.

Reply | Quote

Normally my desktop is blank, on purpose, as I like to keep it that way.
But I will also have a few folders on it to download photos, PDR’s, and other office/ saved websites, when I want to download
alot of “stuff”, before organizing and decanting it to other areas for more permanency.
I have yet to run into the type of situation (having to hit F5 to refresh) the OP has described.

Maybe there is a size/amount limit I have not hit yet?

Reply | Quote

Normally my desktop is blank, on purpose, as I like to keep it that way.
But I will also have a few folders on it to download photos, PDR’s, and other office/ saved websites, when I want to download
alot of “stuff”, before organizing and decanting it to other areas for more permanency.
I have yet to run into the type of situation (having to hit F5 to refresh) the OP has described.

Maybe there is a size/amount limit I have not hit yet?

Don’t think it’s size or amount. This is much worse on my laptop where the number of files and the disk size used is much less than my desktop. I also don’t keep many shortcuts or files on the desktop. Don’t like it too cluttered.

Reply | Quote

Sounds like the same bug/behaviour that’s been plaguing W7 users since the first public Beta or earlier, no known fix for it as far as I can remember.

Reply | Quote

Sounds like the same bug/behaviour that’s been plaguing W7 users since the first public Beta or earlier, no known fix for it as far as I can remember.

I have experienced it right from the moment I started using Windows 7.

Reply | Quote

Maybe it’s more of an issue with the way in which one is using Windows 7 [??]Please provide more detailed instruction on how one could reproduce this behavior and I will try it.

Reply | Quote

Maybe it’s more of an issue with the way in which one is using Windows 7 [??]Please provide more detailed instruction on how one could reproduce this behavior and I will try it.

There is no specific pattern of behavior that will cause this. When the problem “starts” (no forewarning) every operation on the file system (saving files, creating folders) just does not cause explorer to refresh the display. This happens with explorer itself or with save file dialogs, makes no difference. It can be particularly annoying when creating folders, because you get stuck with the New Folder name on the screen, even though you have changed it already. A forced refresh will get you the updated contents. Killing and restarting Explorer solves it… but just temporarily.

I also believe this is made worse by the fact that I hardly restart my computers (I just put them to sleep when I know I won’t be using them for a while). The problem does not occur immediately upon boot, so those who shutdown regularly should be less prone to the issue.

Reply | Quote

The OP states “any file”. Does this include jpg or png files as well? If so I do not see this happening on my laptop in Win 7 or Win 8 CP. I regularly save jpg and/or png files to my desktop temporarily before posting as screen shots in the Lounge and other Forums. I cannot attest to other type files as I do not save other files to my desktop but I do regularly save these files and do not need to use F5.

Reply | Quote

I shut down regularly so that might be it, but it also seems like it could be a memory problem as well.
.It may well be that it is less noticeable on a beefier system.

Reply | Quote

I shut down regularly so that might be it, but it also seems like it could be a memory problem as well.
.It may well be that it is less noticeable on a beefier system.

Well I have 6 GB in a 7 x64. It’s not much, but it can’t be said it’s not enough.

Reply | Quote

I experience this problem 100% of the time if I sort by date modified. If I sort by Name (file-name) then the problem is never observed. I have been hoping that eventually MS will correct this bug.

Reply | Quote

I experience this problem 100% of the time if I sort by date modified. If I sort by Name (file-name) then the problem is never observed. I have been hoping that eventually MS will correct this bug.

Interesting; I always sort by Item type. The heirarchy of that sort is Item type > File name. When I add an item to the desktop, it shows up immediatley, but not sorted; it appears at the bottom of the right-hand column until I sort again. If I create a shortcut, it stays at the creation point until I sort again.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

I experience this problem 100% of the time if I sort by date modified. If I sort by Name (file-name) then the problem is never observed. I have been hoping that eventually MS will correct this bug.

That ties in, I experienced it again it again this morning – in a folder sorted by date – but it’s inconsistent for me.

Reply | Quote

I just registered this account merely to express my dissatisfaction about this extremely annoying issue.

Dear Microsoft…WTF!?

Cheers!

Reply | Quote

I don’t shut down my desktop at all, and I’ve never noticed such behavior. I save a number of files on my desktop as well as shortcuts, and they always appear immediately. I can’t recall having to refresh anything that runs in Explorer.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

Now that you mention it, I mostly sort my files by date, but this wouldn’t really explain the problems with files in the desktop.

Reply | Quote

I’ve never sorted by date modified, it’s either by type, or by filename, depending upon the folder.
I’ll have to give it a try and see if I could replicate this behavioR.

On another note:
if this is indeed true, one must have had to have deliberately changed the sort properties of files, because
sorting by date modified is not the Windows 7 default setting. [??]

Reply | Quote

First, thank you all for your input. This issue can be duplicated on my laptop when I save a picture or PDF from the web (using Firefox if that matters) directly to the desktop. If I save a file to a folder on the desktop or a folder on the same drive or a different drive it does not happen. This install is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 years old. I do maintain my system regularly. I also have 8gb of RAM so I do not think the amount of RAM is an issue but, possibly the way Windows handles memory. As stated previously in my original post this issue just started. It never previously happened. I do use an additional monitor (24″) to extend my desktop since day 1. Unfortunately these little issues are usually not like a skin blemish that with a little care will go away, they usually cause other little issues that eventually cause a total system re-install. It looks like the only solution for me at this time is a few doses of Weber Blue Agave Juice.:wacko::wacko::wacko:

Reply | Quote

I doubt that a total system reinstall will fix it. I repaired my 7 x64 system a few weeks ago and it is still happening. When it really annoys me, I just kill and relaunch Windows Explorer. I guess you could also try one of the Windows Explorer “replacement” apps and see if they don’t suffer from this issue.

Reply | Quote

Win7 x64, 8gig. I have dozens of desktop items across 2 monitors, they are all unsorted but kept in order via the Fences UI program from Stardock. Most are shortcuts, but I currently have over a dozen files [Excel, Word, txt, PDF, tsv] and a couple of small program EXEs. I use Directory Opus file manager, and reboot only when something requires it.

I have never experienced any problem like people have described here, incl the brief period before installing DOpus and the longer period before using Fences. In fact, the Fences behavior has been better since Win7 SP1, almost no instances of an occasional icon going astray nowadays.

Wandering thoughts:
Ruiri’s suggestion of trying a different file manager is worth a shot.
Create a different user on your PC and see if that fixes it–maybe a corrupt user profile.
There used to be problems with corrupt iconcache back in XP and earlier–is that still a potential problem in Win7?
I’ve always had a decent graphics card; you guys with problems got more than on-board graphics?
My pagefile is auto-maintained by Windows–did you maybe eliminate yours due to lots of RAM?
XP used to search for network stuff [files, printers] before updating icons–could there be some process which ‘never’ ends getting in the way?

Lugh.
~
Alienware Aurora R6; Win10 Home x64 1803; Office 365 x32
i7-7700; GeForce GTX 1060; 16GB DDR4 2400; 1TB SSD, 256GB SSD, 4TB HD

Reply | Quote

I know this is an old thread but I was experiencing this problem and after some research, I found a cure
and hope it may help others who may be having the same problem 🙂
It applies to Windows 7 and in my case, the 32 bit Home Premium version but may work with other versions……

Enter the regedit procedure.
Right click HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and click Find
Type dontrefresh in the search box and then hit enter
After a short while, you should see the DontRefresh entry in the Right Hand section.
The Data value will probably be set to ‘1’
Right click it, choose Modify and change the value to ‘0’
Boot your computer – your Desktop should now refresh properly.

Just as a precaution, it might be a good idea to create a restore point before editing the registry…..

Reply | Quote

Did you not see the fix in post #23?

cheers, Paul

Reply | Quote

Did you not see the fix in post #23?

cheers, Paul

Thank you Paul, IT WORKS! 🙂

Sorry Microsoft…I got carried away…@#$% Apple!

Reply | Quote