Icons always move when adding a monitor

[kris_hm]

I have a 4 monitor set up on my computer. I have 3 computer monitors that turn on every time my computer turns on and then i have a tv hooked in as a 4th monitor. I only turn the tv on when i want to watch tv but every time i turn it on all my icons move to my primary display and its very annoying. I have everything organized between my 3 computer monitors so constantly having to move them getting very very annoying. I had found a solution online that told me to add a registry key in a certain area: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Policies
Here i made a new folder called Explorer and made a new DWORD value called NoSaveSettings and gave it a value of zero. This actually fixed my issue... for about 2 weeks. Whenever i turned my tv on my icons did not move and i was very pleased with this, but now theyre moving again. I do not know what happened or why this suddenly stopped working. I went back to check the value i made and it is still there. So i dont know. Anyway, all 3 of my monitors and my tv display at 1080p so resolution shouldnt be an issue should it? besides i dont keep any icons on my tv because its not always on. So i wouldnt think that would be the issue. I could look for third party software but i really hate to download some program just to keep my icons in place.. i mean seriously? is there nothing i can do here? I could turn my tv on at the same time as my computer, if i do this my icons do not move.. but i sit at my computer for hours at a time, and half the time i dont even watch tv so i really dont want to just leave my tv on and let the screen burn for no reason.
Auto arrange is off and i tried turning the grid on and off but this did not solve the issue either. The closest i got was that registry mod which worked for a while but now for some reason its not. Go figure..

 

[androbourne]

I'm assuming the fix isnt as simple as setting a proper default monitor in the display view?

You can try to reapply the registry fix again. Just change it back to the old value, save and readd the correct value and save.

If that doesn't work you can try to use a tool called "Duel Monitor Tools" I use it sometimes to lock screens of games to specific monitors. however, it has a lot of other features. It might be able to do what you are looking for.

 

[kris_hm]

Sorry more specific my resolution on every display including my tv is 1920x1080 according to the screen resolution window found when i right click on the desktop.

 

[kris_hm]

I'm assuming the fix isnt as simple as setting a proper default monitor in the display view?

You can try to reapply the registry fix again. Just change it back to the old value, save and readd the correct value and save.

If that doesn't work you can try to use a tool called "Duel Monitor Tools" I use it sometimes to lock screens of games to specific monitors. however, it has a lot of other features. It might be able to do what you are looking for.

No not as simple as setting a default monitor. I actually deleted the key and created it again. I hope this isnt something im going to have to do every 2 weeks...
Im going to restart my machine now and see if my icons move.

 

[androbourne]

Ah gotcha. Thought you were more concerned about the icons location.

After the reboot can you check device manager to see if any drivers might be missing? Have you tried installing more current monitor drivers straight from the manufacture?

Is it possible that there is older display drivers still installed? Can you run DDU tool and completely remove all the drivers and only install the current driver for your main display card?

 

[Scottray]

I have sort of similar issue. I have a laptop at work with a docking station and 2 external monitors. I dock/undock my laptop a couple of times a day. As I do this, the icons get rearranged. I found a great little utility program called reIcon. After you set it up, one right click on any monitor and select the retore icons setting, sets all the icons back where I want them. Here's the link: http://www.sordum.org/8366/reicon-v1-7-restore-desktop-icon-layouts/

 

[kris_hm]

Deleting and remaking the key worked for now. Hope i dont have to do this all the time.