Windows 7 desktop does not automatically refresh

I am using Windows 7.

If I delete something from the desktop, then the icon remains there.

I have to hit F5 or right-click->Refresh to make the desktop refresh. After the refresh, the icon disappears.

Any suggestions?

JosephStyons

Posted 2009-11-11T21:47:49.577

Reputation: 653

(Can't post as answer due rep) Go to: (Explorer) Folder Options > Search tab and check or uncheck some of the options. Pretty stupid bug. – pileofrocks – 2014-07-04T18:04:54.290

Answers

I finally found the answer to this...

Open regedit and search for dontrefresh.

You should find a value that has dontrefresh set to 1. Change this value to 0 and your problem should be solved.

I found the value under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{BDEADE7F-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}\Instance

I confirmed the fix on my laptop. No more pressing F5 after I make a new folder or move a file to my desktop!

Saumaun

Posted 2009-11-11T21:47:49.577

Reputation: 61

Unfortunately, dontrefresh does not exist in my registry (according to the commens here, neither does on many other computers). I could obviously create it, but hard to to tell under what path it should be made.

– pileofrocks – 2014-07-04T17:59:48.327

Temporary AutoHotkey fix:

While 1
{
    IfWinExist Confirm File Delete ahk_class #32770
    {
        WinWaitClose, Confirm File Delete ahk_class #32770
        ControlSend,,{F5},ahk_class Progman
    }
    Sleep 1
}

Explaination:

If the confirm file delete dialog is open, wait until it's closed then send F5 to the desktop. I know this will always refresh the desktop even if the file wasn't deleted from the desktop, but it doesn't hurt anything really.

John T

Posted 2009-11-11T21:47:49.577

Reputation: 149 037

Shouldn't it be "$Del::" , as you send {Del} itself in the script? – Snark – 2009-11-11T22:12:36.547

last approach was bad anyways, changed it all around. – John T – 2009-11-11T22:27:30.167

1Shouldn't that have a While, 1 in there, in case the OP wants to delete more than one file? ;) – Phoshi – 2009-11-11T22:31:16.663

I have solved the problem by removing the CPU clock from the side bar, this tool caused the problem and also didn't allow the machine to shut down properly.

If that is not the case, think about an application that you have installed recently that might cause this fault and remove it.

Ed Avin

Posted 2009-11-11T21:47:49.577

Reputation:

Thanks for the tip, but I have the sidebar completely turned off. – JosephStyons – 2009-11-24T17:06:23.897

Just about any 3rd party utility or extension can cause this in the same manner, so this is a good answer to consider, even if you don't have this specific utility. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2013-09-25T20:45:04.527

The cause on my PC was a "Network Location" that was pointing to a server that was turned off.

When I deleted that Network Location, all my icons started refreshing normally.

Here's a screenshot to show what I mean by Network Location:

This solution was originally found in a comment by Emin Guzel after HOURS of searching and experimenting with solutions.

John Rees

Posted 2009-11-11T21:47:49.577

Reputation: 146