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Thread ID: 26414	2002-10-27 00:17:00	Tip: Managing lots of desktop icons	Terry Porritt (14)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
93284	2002-10-27 00:17:00	If this is old hat, please excuse, but it could be useful to those that dont do this trick :) If you're like me, over the course of time lots of programs, utilities, etc get downloaded. Many want to put an icon on your desktop, and eventually the desktop can be a clutter, and the Start Menu is as long as your arm :( Here is an example of what I do to help keep things tidy. I have heaps of system utilities, like system cleaners, registry editors, system information utils like SiSoft etc. So I made a folder on the C: drive called System Utils Master Folder, and into that made 1KB shortcuts to various utility programs. If there were a number of utils all of the same kind that could be grouped together, like Registry Utils, I made another folder called Registry Utils and put a shortcut to that folder in the System Utils Master Folder. Then in the Registry Utils folder I put shortcuts to the various registry utility programs So now all the system utils (about 31) can be accessed from just one icon on the desktop. To make things look better the yellow MS default folder icons were replaced by more appropriate icons like tool boxes. There are lots of free icons that can be downloaded if you dont like the limited choice of MS ones. Other examples on the desktop is a Graphics Master Folder containing 6 graphics programs shortcuts, and just one 'camera' icon, an Encoders and Players icon pointing to 19 program shortcuts, an icon for Editors containing various text and hex editors, another icon points to a folder that has shortcuts to all my internet tools programs. I expect there are lots of different ways people have devised to control their desktop whilst keeping easy access to programs, but this one works well for me.	Terry Porritt (14)
93285	2002-10-27 04:13:00	Yep.... Good idea.... On my desktop I have just 7 icons and two of those are in fact folders. I have one folder for MY stuff and one for my OTHER HALF. She don't play with MY stuff and I don't play with HERS. It works for US!! :-)	Elephant (599)
93286	2002-10-27 04:41:00	Hi Terry and Elephant, I did much the same - my kids have their own desktop icons, so when they come to stay in the weekend, all their programs are in the one spot. My desktop was a shambles until I realised I could create desktop folders and group everything together. BALDY:-)	Baldy (26)
93287	2002-10-27 09:05:00	I just use the Quick Launch mainly, a separate hidden one on the left of the screen. True Launch can be nice as well.	-=JM=- (16)
93288	2002-10-27 09:25:00	Frankly unless you are going to use a program when you first boot the PC it is pointless having it on the desktop. It makes more sense having them on the start menu. Any program I try that puts an icon on the desktop without asking me almost always gets deleted. I've seen desktops that are such a clutter that you can't find anything.	mikebartnz (21)
93289	2002-10-27 09:29:00	i just drag the icons onto the start bar, and use the quick launch feature, but i also have most of the icons still on the desktop cos i can't be bothered moving them. I think u should also explain how to expand the cache for the icons, more and more people will need help on this topic, because they aren't aware that the more the icons = the more RAM being used by the pc. and thus a downgrade in performance and a less stable pc aswell. cheers, v.K------------------- :D	vk_dre (195)
93290	2002-10-27 19:11:00	I thought there would be different views and methods on this topic. There must be more to come :) As regards increasing the icon cache size, vk_dre, my posting to Paulines haunted desktop was somewhat abbreviated, it does need filling out with step by step detail, also advice on deleting the cache file to let it rebuild in case of corruption. The problem I had with the .reg file was just finger trouble, so that would be the way to go in a FAQ, as its a safer procedure than manually editing the registry. The FAQ would only be for Win9x though. It rather irritates me a bit the way some advice in readme files, magazines etc etc often say save it on your desktop, its no wonder desktops get in a mess :(	Terry Porritt (14)
93291	2002-10-27 19:52:00	Is RAM being used when icons are in the Short-cut bar along the bottom of the screen? Is an icon better to be on the left or the right side of this bar? Peter E	Peter (676)
93292	2002-10-28 05:06:00	> Is RAM being used when icons are in the Short-cut bar > along the bottom of the screen? Is an icon better to > be on the left or the right side of this bar? No, ram isn't being used up when icons are in the short-cut bar along the bottom of the screen. it's ur choice as to where the icon bar should be. And terry i think that u should go ahead with a FAQ for this topic, even if it is only for win 9x. cheers, v.K	vk_dre (195)
93293	2002-10-28 05:11:00	> It rather irritates me a bit the way some advice in > readme files, magazines etc etc often say save it on > your desktop, its no wonder desktops get in a mess > :( Exactly, although they might suggest the person to have the icon on the desktop for instant access, it actually slows down how fast ur program loads the program u want. It just seems that people don't really care about a messy desktop till u tell them that its bad for their PC.	vk_dre (195)
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