Desktop display

Question

I am an IT admin at my company and I have never seen this issue before. This is from my coworker:

I’m have issues trying with my screen set ups.  When I am using one screen everything is set up correctly when I plug in my docking station and go with two screens everything gets separated.  I’d like screen 2 to be blank and all icons on one screen.

When he plugs his dock connector into his laptop, windows bumps his files that he has saved to his desktop all over the place. In the photos, the separated 1 and 2 is what is looks like when the dock is plugged in and the only 1 is when unplugged. Has anybody seen this issue before or know how to fix it?

Seperate

One Screen

I have tried moving all the files into the correct location when plugged in, but when disconnected and reconnected it goes back to the original where the files get bumped around.

Answer 1

Hello Griffin,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

It sounds like your coworker is experiencing issues with his screen setup and the arrangement of icons on the desktop when connecting and disconnecting his docking station. This is a common problem that can occur due to changes in screen resolution and monitor configurations when connecting or disconnecting external displays.

To address this issue and ensure a consistent desktop layout, you can try the following solutions:

1. Arrange Icons Manually: In Windows, you can arrange icons manually on the desktop. This way, you can set up the icons on one screen, and when your coworker connects the docking station with two screens, the icons should remain in their positions. To do this:
   • Right-click on an empty area of the desktop.
   • Choose "View" and uncheck "Auto arrange icons" and "Align icons to grid."
   • Then, manually arrange the icons in the desired positions.
2. Screen Resolution Settings: Make sure that both screens connected to the docking station have the same screen resolution and scaling settings. Inconsistent resolution and scaling might cause icons to move around when switching between one and two screens.
3. Save Desktop Icon Layout: Consider using third-party software that can save and restore the desktop icon layout. Some applications can save the desktop layout when your coworker is using one screen and restore it when they connect the docking station with two screens. This helps maintain the icon arrangement.
4. Check Display Settings: Ensure that the display settings are set to "Extend" and not "Duplicate" when the docking station is connected. The "Duplicate" display mode might cause the icons to be rearranged when extending the display to two screens.
5. Update Graphics Drivers: Make sure that the graphics drivers for the laptop and the docking station are up to date. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause display-related issues.
6. Create a Custom Monitor Profile: In some cases, creating a custom monitor profile for the specific monitor configuration might help maintain the desktop layout when connecting or disconnecting the docking station.
7. Check for Software Conflicts: Verify that no third-party software, such as desktop customization tools, is interfering with the desktop icon arrangement.

It's worth noting that Windows behavior can vary depending on the hardware, software, and settings on the specific system. Therefore, it might require some trial and error to find the optimal setup for your coworker's specific configuration.

I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.

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