Bug in 1.16- desktop icons missing after restart

from Stardock Forums

I've noticed that when restarting my machine, the desktop icons are missing. In order to have them displayed, I must right-click anywhere on my desktop and then they are rendered. I noticed this behavior with Start8 v. 1.16.

Is there a setting I might change to overcome this glitch or will this be corrected in the next build?

Thanks.

start8
3,292 views 10 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, indeed. Incompatibility or settings tweak I need to make?

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

If you are using Fences 1 on Windows 8 then the icons will never show without a right click.

If you are using Fences 2.x on Windows 8 then the icons will appear, but depending on what icons are on the desktop and what else is loading, it can take 30-60 seconds before they appear.  A right click hurries this along.  This is because Fences sets the icons to hidden until it is loaded.

Start8 itself should not be having any impact on this other than getting you to the desktop quicker which could make you notice the Fences slowness more.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm using Fences 1 but this has only recently become an issue. Did something change with Start8 recently that triggered the need for the right-click?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting mhowie22, reply 4

I'm using Fences 1 but this has only recently become an issue. Did something change with Start8 recently that triggered the need for the right-click?
End of mhowie22's quote

Fences 1 has never worked correctly on Windows 8.  The system it uses to autoload was broken by Microsoft and this is why without a right click it will not show the desktop icons.  This happens with or without Start8 and if it was working before I can only imagine some app was triggering the right click logic in explorer and so causing Fences to run the init code.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I just installed 1.20 and my desktop icons disappeared immediately after.  I don't have Fences or even know what it is.  Certainly looks like a Start8 problem to me.  What up with that?

 

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Oh, yeah... right clicking doesn't help; they're just GONE; system icons AND shortcuts.

 

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting dhaxton1, reply 7

Oh, yeah... right clicking doesn't help; they're just GONE; system icons AND shortcuts.

 
End of dhaxton1's quote

I recommend contacting [email protected] for assistance as the issue you are having is not something we would expect to happen with Start8 (the original thread related to an issue with Fences)

They should be able to collect some more information.

I am assuming you have not accidentally set icons to hidden on the desktop right click menu (view submenu)

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, things got worse with Fences 1 installed...recent updates to the Windows OS (8.1) rendered Fences effectively useless as one could not add icons, move icons, or pretty much do anything other than open the program/docs associated with the icons that existed before the update occurred. In addition, none of my desktop icons could be moved nor could I add any new ones.

I uninstalled Fences 1 and was able to again move my desktop icons and add new shortcuts to the desktop.

I subsequently installed Fences 2 and its capability was again restored.

It appears the opportunity to run a free version of Fences is a thing of the past.

I only wish Fences was reasonably priced. I am a paid user of Start8 and would consider paying a similar amount for Fences 2. $10 is comparatively quite extreme when one takes actual functionality into account.

Hopefully Stardock might reconsider its pricing strategy for this add-on.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Fences 1.0 is not Windows 8 or 8.1 compatible due to changes in the OS that Microsoft made.

Fences 2 is compatible, though 8.1 needs the very latest 2.x build.

Regarding the price of Fences 2, it is always worth looking out for a sale.  I don't know what the Stardock plans are for sales over the holiday period, but I could well imagine seeing Fences at a discount if there is a sale on apps.