Desktop Shortcut Icons

[socalgal]

Does anyone have a trick to "hide" the desktop shortcut icons? I don't want to use the System Policies to restrict access, but only to hide them from view.

Thanks! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Jin Vitas]

Yea little lady... Have user level access on the system... and each user that logs in will have their own desktop settings in their profile.

[socalgal]

Thanks Jin, but I think I said that wrong up there. I am the only user - my home system. So I assume Control Panel/Users is moot. And, in C:\Windows\All Users, the folders are empty. Barring that, I can't even find my profile (duh?)

What I seek is something like the AutoHide feature for Taskbar. I noticed in Folder Options that you can set Hide Icons when desktop is viewed as Web Page, but I use Classic style. I guess in the scheme of things it's no big deal, but I would like it for cosmetic reasons.

[socalgal]

ohh! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/redface.gif *cough*passwords*cough* to create a User Profile. lol

..but I tried the various options and still can't figure out how to get those icons off..
What is it I'm not doing?



[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-28-99).]

[Roy]

Maybe you could cycle the wallpaper as a screensaver with a very short turn-on time. Then when you wanted to go somewhere the desktop would appear with the icons to take you onward. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[socalgal]

Thanks Roy, I guess that's the option for me since User Profile is so User Unfriendly.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif Maybe I will try that LiteStep ...

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-28-99).]

[BBA]

I kinda had the same desire, so I just moved them onto the sys bar and deleted the copies from the desktop. It works for all but the My Computer and Network Neighborhood, but most can be removed from the desktop.

Turn on auto-hide then your pretty close to there!

BBA

[This message has been edited by BBA (edited 05-28-99).]

[Mntsnow]

socalgal
If you are using TweakUI you can go to the "desktop" tab and disable the Network neiborhood icon and others in there...the only I cant get rid of as of yet is "my computer"....But working on it http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Mntsnow

[socalgal]

BBA ~ Perfect!! Thanx a bunch http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Mntsnow ~ Cool, I will install that from my win98 disk (can u believe I haven't yet? *sheepish grin*) Let me know when you get that My Puter off too http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Gripsz]

How about a makeover so that the My
Computer icon will look like Explorer, act like Explorer and work like Explorer? That way, we can change the useless icon into
a more useful one. If that's what you want, follow on.

Run your registry editor and go to

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell

With \shell highlighted, create a new key named LaunchExplorer. With \LaunchExplorer highlighted, create a new key called
command. Change the default value of command to explorer /e. For final touch-ups, change the My Computer's icon and
rename it as well. Give it a appropriate one such as "Computer Explorer" to differentiate from the real Explorer.

[MrEd]

Or you can go here for instructions to hide the My Computer Icon.
http://www.activewin.com/tips/desk_tips_9.shtml

[Mntsnow]

Whata know.....Thanks MR Ed!

Now I have a Clear view of my wallpaper!...Boy it's nice http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Mntsnow

[socalgal]

wowowow totally cool!!! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif I have my Wallpaper in ALL it's glory! Thanks MrEd!! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

(It's the little things in life that turn me on hahah)

Gripsz ~ thanks also for the suggestion!

[This message has been edited by socalgal (edited 05-29-99).]

[MrEd]

Hey all guess what I just found. Looks really cool!!! Might be easier than all that icon creation and ****!

http://www.download.com/pc/software/0,332,0-66318-s,1000.html?st.dl.subcat79.list.tdtl

-MrEd

[socalgal]

well whaddyaknow? heheh well I already did the icon creation "****" and had alot of fun doing it too! But that does seem to be a cool tool and I will use it next time! Thanx MrEd! - good research there! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[MrEd]

Nota Problem. Just found it by accident actually.

[mlane]

Depending on how you want to hide them, there are a number of programs around to do what you want.

An especially well done piece of work called WatchCat is available from:
http://members.xoom.com/TepMuHyc.wcat.html

Microsoft's TweakUI has the ability to hide those "permanent" type desktop icons like Recycle Bin, My Computer, Network Neighbourhood etc.. Note there my be other side effects if you hide NN.

A utility to hide desktop icons called DeskSweeper is available from No Nonsense Software:
http://www.no-nonsense-software.com/freeware/

[socalgal]

Looks like I need to a Print for this page! Thanx all http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Mrcompjr1]

hey socalgal ....... since you have 98 try this....
START...SETTINGS....ACTIVE DESKTOP....VIEW AS WEBPAGE....
and poof! the icons disappear but you still have your wallpaper to view
when you want them back just right click on the desktop and hit refresh
and poof! thier back
i'm just a rookie at this but it seems alot simpler this way.....

[MrEd]

Hey Socalgal, I downloaded that DeskSweeper utility from the url on my last post. Pretty cool. It puts a little icon in your taskbar. Looks like a monitor. Click on it and BAM, desktop icons gone. Click it again BAM, everything back. It's also got shortcuts built in if you right click on the icon. You can restart, shutdown, and go to windows explorer among some other things in there (Like hiding your wallpaper) all from the pop-up.

-MrEd