Desktop Icons May Not Appear on a Secondary Monitor (232798)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you restart your computer with multiple-display support enabled, your desktop icons may not appear on a secondary monitor.

Or, when you are using multiple monitors, your desktop icons may not be saved when you quit Windows.

WORKAROUND

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

This issue may be temporarily resolved by deleting the following registry key:

HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\Old WorkAreas

This is not a permanent fix. It may happen again after a period of time and the registry key must be deleted each time the issue comes up.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.