Forcing windows to redraw the entire screen

Question

I am currently drawing graphics with GDI but I need to be able to redraw the entire desktop/screen. My graphics are drawn on the screen but when I would move a plotted pixel it would become a line because I am not redrawing the screen ( well windows isn't ). I need something to force it to redraw the entire screen, I've tried the following approaches:

UpdateWindow(GetDesktopWindow() );

InvalidateRect( GetDesktopWindow(), NULL, TRUE );

SendMessage( GetDesktopWindow(), WM_PAINT, NULL, NULL );

None of them seem to work, I just need the entire screen to redraw.

Answer 1

The best way might be to save the previous pixel state/color and restore it when you move the pixel. Redrawing the whole screen seems like too much effort and an aweful waste of resources.