diff --git a/dlls/winex11.drv/window.c b/dlls/winex11.drv/window.c
index 3948b1a361b..3334e611857 100644
--- a/dlls/winex11.drv/window.c
+++ b/dlls/winex11.drv/window.c
@@ -1234,10 +1234,6 @@ static void get_desktop_xwin( Display *display, struct x11drv_win_data *data )
         SetPropA( data->hwnd, visual_id_prop, (HANDLE)visualid );
         set_initial_wm_hints( display, data );
     }
-    SetWindowPos( data->hwnd, 0, virtual_screen_rect.left, virtual_screen_rect.top,
-                  virtual_screen_rect.right - virtual_screen_rect.left,
-                  virtual_screen_rect.bottom - virtual_screen_rect.top,
-                  SWP_NOZORDER | SWP_NOACTIVATE );
 }
 
 /**********************************************************************
diff --git a/programs/explorer/desktop.c b/programs/explorer/desktop.c
index 8d030943c43..224f0de0cfd 100644
--- a/programs/explorer/desktop.c
+++ b/programs/explorer/desktop.c
@@ -181,17 +181,14 @@ void manage_desktop( char *arg )
         xwin = create_desktop( "Default", width, height );
     }
 
-    if (!xwin)  /* using the root window */
-    {
-        using_root = TRUE;
-        width = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXSCREEN);
-        height = GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYSCREEN);
-    }
+    if (!xwin) using_root = TRUE; /* using the root window */
 
     /* create the desktop window */
     hwnd = CreateWindowExW( 0, DESKTOP_CLASS_ATOM, NULL,
                             WS_POPUP | WS_VISIBLE | WS_CLIPSIBLINGS | WS_CLIPCHILDREN,
-                            0, 0, width, height, 0, 0, 0, NULL );
+                            GetSystemMetrics(SM_XVIRTUALSCREEN), GetSystemMetrics(SM_YVIRTUALSCREEN),
+                            GetSystemMetrics(SM_CXVIRTUALSCREEN), GetSystemMetrics(SM_CYVIRTUALSCREEN),
+                            0, 0, 0, NULL );
     if (hwnd == GetDesktopWindow())
     {
         SetWindowLongPtrW( hwnd, GWLP_WNDPROC, (LONG_PTR)desktop_wnd_proc );