Desktop Icons: The Great Disappearing Act

2 Responses to “Desktop Icons: The Great Disappearing Act”

1. Sherri Joubert on October 30th, 2007 6:28 pm

   Caveat: I’ve been doing this since my computer was new, so it’s been easy to stick to a system that has kept my desktop clean. It requires managing your desktop as you use it rather than being a quick cleanup method.

   Garrett’s way is much easier and I love the way it alphabetizes everything.

   I keep my desktop clean by using a specific folder for downloads from the internet. I found that’s where a lot of junk on my desktop came from. You can set your default download location to anyplace you want it to be. I set Firefox to download all my stuff to my “Downloads” folder in “My Documents”, and I go there to access the content. You could put this folder on your desktop to make it more easily accessible.

   I also use the “desktop cleanup” function. It will pop up and ask if I want to clean off the desktop. I usually click yes, and then take the icons out of the cleanup folder that I use often if they get put away. Windows isn’t the smartest about knowing what you do and don’t need.

   If I need to install something that I won’t use a lot, I don’t add a quick launch icon or a desktop icon when I run the installer.

   If I’ll need it often, I always install a desktop icon and depending on what it is, a quick launch icon, too. If I don’t need something after awhile, I remove the desktop and/or quick launch icons.

   It’s kind of clunky but works since I’ve been doing it a long time. I’m considering hiding the few icons I do have and having a completely clean desktop so I can see my background picture.

   Thanks for the lesson, Garrett! I always learn from your posts.

2. Garrett on October 30th, 2007 8:56 pm

   Thanks for the tips Sherri! I’m sure others will find them useful. It’s a great counterpart to today’s tech bite.

   -Garrett

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