An odd problem: sometimes when I download or add items to my desktop (or other folders, for that matter), the desktop is not updated to display the new contents. In order to see the new files, I have to open a Nautilus file browser, browse to my desktop, and click Refresh. Then, magically, the files become visible on the desktop. Obviously, I'd rather not have to do this in order to see every change... is there a possibility that I've screwed up a system setting somewhere? If it helps: I'm running gnome-desktop-2.8.0-5 on RHEL4u4.

Maybe it just takes a moment, your system is "sleeping"? Anyway, you could just as well click the desktop (to set focus there) and press F5 to update the contents.

Yeah, I think F5 is an option, but to do that every time something changes? Plus, this is also happening in all other folders as well, not just the desktop. Some process must not be behaving nicely; I just don't know which one.

Actually, F5 doesn't work after all: in order to update my desktop (or any folder), I have to browse to that folder in Nautilus and click Refresh. Any thoughts on the cause of this?

Hi, F5 indeed doesn't work, in gnome env, you should use CTRL+R to refresh your desktop. so, have a try...