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Question

Virtual desktop program for icons, not windows?

Sep 12, 2013 3:58PM PDT

I'm looking for a rather specific type of utility program, and I can't quite seem to find it. I thought I was looking for a Virtual Desktop program, but then I discovered that virtual desktop programs have nothing to do with desktops and are actually about having different task-bars and sets of windows and such, which I don't entirely see the point of.

I'm looking for something that lets me have multiple virtual desktops as in *actual desktops*. You know, the place where the icons go. The desktop. Not the windows, not the taskbar, but the desktop. What is this type of program called, or better yet, do you know any?

You see, I'm transitioning out of a dual monitor setup and I'd rather like somewhere (other than a folder) to put all the icons that I kept on the second monitor.

My computer runs Windows 7, 64 bit

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Interesting.
Sep 12, 2013 9:13PM PDT

I've used all windows versions up to but not including Win 8, and on one of them I had multiple desktops. But for the life of me I can't remember which one. I must have installed an app that gave me this, but neither can I remember what the app was.

I Googled - Windows 7 multiple desktops - and got a number of hits, so perhaps you could do that too.

The first one I saw was http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2012/02/28/how-to-create-multiple-virtual-desktops-in-windows-7-for-free/

That seems to have various options.

Good luck.

Mark

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No, I Tried That
Sep 13, 2013 6:35AM PDT

I tried that. Searching for virtual desktops only gives me programs for having multiple sets of windows.

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Answer
Something like this?
Sep 13, 2013 1:40AM PDT
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That's the thing I said I don't want
Sep 13, 2013 6:33AM PDT

That's separate sets of windows, which I already said I don't need. I want separate desktops on which to place desktop icons.

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You have to explain it better.
Sep 13, 2013 6:53AM PDT

I did not see any window but a tab among desktops. Maybe what you want is not made today?
Bob

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What didn't I explain?
Sep 15, 2013 7:48AM PDT

You know the desktop, right? The place where desktop icons go?

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And you want a few of them.
Sep 15, 2013 8:50AM PDT

I see that here but it appears something is missing the mark. To figure it out, show some video of what you want or just grind it finely.
Bob

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Um...
Sep 15, 2013 10:06AM PDT

Well, do you know what a Virtual Desktop program is? That's not what I want at all, but its similar

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It appears it does not matter what I think it is.
Sep 16, 2013 2:20AM PDT

It matters to you. I can have more than one desktop and if I add the word virtual then you would say that's not what you want.

I hope you found what you wanted.
Bob

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How about mDesktop
Sep 13, 2013 6:53AM PDT
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As I said before, that's not what I want
Sep 15, 2013 10:14AM PDT

I really hate it when people repy to threads without actually reading them

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well.
Sep 15, 2013 10:17AM PDT

if you'd make some sense we would know how to reply. Look at this thread and you'll notice that you're very vague in what it is you're looking for.

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P.S
Sep 15, 2013 10:40AM PDT

I've read every word of this thread several times. To repeat what you said ,"I really hate it when someone" wants people to help them but doesn't explain what it is he/she wants.

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At what point was I vague?
Sep 15, 2013 11:22AM PDT

I very specifically said that I do not want a virtual desktop program that provides different sets of windows and taskbars and that I do want one that provides different desktops. How much more specific do you want me to be?

I specifically described my situation, and the specific needs presented by that situation. I specifically described the term I'd originally been searching by, what I've specifically been able to find, and specifically how that wasn't what I was looking for. I then specifically described what I actually was looking for, and specifically how that's different from what I've been able to find. I even specifically described what a desktop is, despite that being common knowledge and therefore (one would assume) unnecessary.

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That's the whole thing.
Sep 15, 2013 2:48PM PDT

You have'nt given us a "specific description" of what you're looking for. What you've given us is your "Fourth Grade Attitude" which you can leave at the doorstep.After school when you get educated enough to "really describe" you're conundrum , feel free to "specifically describe" it and everyone here will be hpapy to help you.

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If you say so, alright. So at risk of sounding ridiculous...
Sep 15, 2013 4:44PM PDT

I (BrokenEye3, who is me, the person typing this message and who started this thread) previously (in the past) had my computer (electronic computing machine) hooked up to two (2) monitors (computer screens), with the desktop (the screen you see when you turn on the computer but haven't started any programs yet, where the desktop icons are kept) split across the two (2) of them (the monitors).

I recently (within the last couple months or so) got (bought from a store) another computer, and needed to use one of the monitors (computer screen) for it (the second computer). This meant that I could no longer use it for the first (original) computer, leaving me with only one (1) monitor for that one (the first computer).

I started (began) looking into a way to replace (substitute for) the way (two-monitor setup) I'd had. I discovered Virtual Desktop programs (downloadable computer programs that allow you to have more than one workspace with different windows on the same computer, although why anyone would need that is beyond me). Due to the programs' (software category's) vastly misleading title (description), I initially believed (thought) that it was what I was looking for (a way to split the desktop icons across two desktops but with only one monitor). However, I discovered (found out) that this (the programs being way to split the desktop icons across two desktops but with only one monitor) was not the case (IE false).

So I'm wondering (hoping) if there is (exists) a similar (sharing some common traits without being identical) sort of program (computer software) to Virtual Desktops that deals with actual desktops (the the screen you see when you turn on the computer but haven't started any programs yet, where the desktop icons are kept) and the icons (tiny pictures representing programs and files that you can click on to open) contained therein (on the desktop) rather than windows (open programs and files) and task bars (the thing across the bottom of the screen that says what windows you have open) and such (things like that).

Because I am wondering this (if there is a way to split the desktop icons across two desktops but with only one monitor) I came here (to the software and support-related internet forum known as CNET.com) to ask (enquirer) if anyone (you, or anyone else who answers questions here) knows (is aware of) what this type of program (computer software) is called (the descriptive title applying to the category of software which lets you split the desktop icons across two desktops but with only one monitor), or knows (is aware) of any specific such programs (computer software that lets you split the desktop icons across two desktops but with only one monitor) and where I can find (locate and then buy or download) them (programs which let you split the desktop icons across two desktops but with only one monitor).

If that's still too vague for you, I honestly don't know what else to say

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I still don't understand
Sep 16, 2013 2:07AM PDT
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I read that more than once
Sep 16, 2013 2:24AM PDT

And it appears all multiple desktop apps seem to fail what you want. If you ever find this software, let us know so we can see what we missed.
Bob

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PS. Just a picture.
Sep 16, 2013 2:39AM PDT
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PS 2. Big desktop, the old Pan and Scroll
Sep 16, 2013 2:45AM PDT
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PS. Fences.
Sep 16, 2013 3:22AM PDT

Fences manages just desktop icons. I see I mentioned above but you dismissed it. However reviewing the above it might be what you wanted all along.
Bob

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Might work
Sep 16, 2013 7:06AM PDT

Hmm... okay, that might work. Not exactly what I'm looking for, but it might work. I'll look into it.

The video you previously submitted on the subject was very misleading, and made Fences appear to be just another "windows and taskbars" program.

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Scratch that...
Sep 16, 2013 7:44AM PDT

The "Desktop Pages" feature is exactly what I'm looking for . I just wish there was a visible button to switch pages instead of having to drag it. Thank you so much.

The video was still misleading though.

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Then no "Virtual" anything.
Sep 17, 2013 8:28AM PDT