Comments on: Tip of the day: Keep a clean desktop

By: Ron D.

Ron D. — Tue, 09 May 2006 22:14:03 +0000

Aaron & Tyler,

Here is the solution if you are still interested…

If you are not going to use the Desktop shortcut as described, simply delete it and your files (images, etc) will open as they did before.

Not sure why this is, but I tried it as an experiment, had the same results with opening a jpg, and it works again after deleting the shortcut.

Hope that helps.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 21:31:31 +0000

I have the same problem as Aaron. Any fixes?

By: Martey

Martey — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

For me, at least, hiding the icons on the Desktop belies the reasons for using the Desktop to temporary storage in the first place: immediacy (I can see them without having to open Explorer windows) and aesthetics (if I have too many files on the Desktop, I am forced to clean some of them up in order to see the background again).

By: Zaine Ridling

Zaine Ridling — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I have several folders where I dump website/IE shortcuts. They’re also easier to read that way. For programs and others, I have other folders. Two or three does the trick.

By: Michael M. Ross

Michael M. Ross — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I haven’t had a shortcut on my desktop in a year and a half – since I created TaskTracker:-! (Sorry for plugging my own wares, but I couldn’t let this one go.) But if you really like shortcuts, with TaskTracker’s virtual folders you can instantly create desktop folders with shortcuts to any documents (or other files) you choose.

By: martinelli

martinelli — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

What about the Windows key plus D. Collapses everything out of the way to the taskbar so you can click on the icon and then brings it all back up afterwards so you can resume work. Shorter cut than mousing all the way over to a start menu and selecting from a list.

By: Jim K.

Jim K. — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Re: desktop icons, I took a radical tack a year or so ago -- all I have on mine is the Recycle Bin, thanks to a nifty inexpensive utility called TrueLaunch Bar ( http://www.truelaunchbar.com/ ). I have reduced 98 (!) icons for programs I use every day, important file shortcuts, and utilities, etc. to only 10 icons in two rows to the right of START. Since the TLB icons pop up the lists, I can access any of the 98 shortcuts with one click. I find it's a great way to maximize screen real estate.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

I tried this for about 10 minutes and didn’t like it as I am accustomed to just hitting Windows Key-M to get to the desktop where I keep recent files. After bringing the icons back I can no longer open any of the jpegs on my desktop. If I move them elsewhere they open just fine, but double-clicking one from the desktop causes a quick flash on the screen and it doesn’t open. If I right-click and Open With->Windows Picture and Fax Viewer the program opens and says “No preview available”. Googling this issue just returns a bunch of pages about people who had problems with jpegs saved from AOL, which is not the case for me, most of them were emailed pics I saved from gmail in Firefox. Very frustrating.

By: BusinessBits

BusinessBits — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 17:00:00 +0000

Unclutter Your Desktop

Every professional I’ve met has had a cluttered desktop. Personally, I think the desktop is pointless. When do I ever see my desktop? Between Outlook, IE, a few folders open, maybe a document or two I hardly ever see it. In fact, its not until I…