Here are some workarounds to restore your desktop after using a lower resolution (icons and windows) :
 
 
Use Windows shortcuts before and after launching your game

1. Use the keyboard shortcut "Windows + M" to minimize all windows on your screen.
2. Start your game.
3. When you get back to the desktop, press "Windows + SHIFT + M" to restore all windows.
 
 
 
Save and restore desktop icons positions

Use an application like <span class="bold">DesktopOK</span> to save and restore icons positions for any given resolution.  If a game or an application uses a lower resolution, your icons will be automatically restored to their initial positions.

<span class="bold">ReIcon</span> and <span class="bold">Desktop Restore</span> are two other alternatives.  ReIcon has command line support, so it can be used in a batch file to launch an old game that needs a lower resolution (see below).
 
 
 
Launch the game in a virtual desktop

<span class="bold">Desktops 2.0</span> is a small application created by SysInternals (now part of Microsoft), that allows you to organize your applications on up to four virtual desktops.  You could use one of the desktop for your everyday needs, and run your older games in a different one.
 
 
 
Use batch files to launch games that use lower resolutions

You can create a batch file for a specific game that doesn't use the native resolution of your monitor.  The following batch file minimizes all windows on screen, starts VLC Media Player, and restores all windows when VLC is closed.  This also works if you manually kill the application (CTRL-ALT-DEL).  This solution can be combined with DesktopOK or ReIcon to preserve icons positions on desktop.

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@echo off

powershell -command "& {"^
"$shell = New-Object -ComObject "Shell.Application";"^
"$shell.minimizeall();"^

"Start-Process "C:\Multimedia\VLC\vlc.exe" -NoNewWindow -Wait;"^

"$shell.undominimizeall() }"

exit
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Create a batch file with notepad or any other text editor, paste the above script, replace the bold section with the path and filename of the game you want to launch, then save it with a ".bat" extension.  To run the game, simply double-click on the batch file's icon.