Delete Desktop Shortcuts
Dear Computer Lady,
I enjoy reading your newsletter.
I have a quick question – how do I get rid of some of the icons on my desktop that I’m not using on a regular basis?
I don’t want to get rid of the program itself, but I don’t need all those icons on my desktop.
Thank you, Janet
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Dear Janet,
You can get rid of most icons on your desktop by right-clicking on the icon and click on “Delete” on the shortcut menu that drops down.
This will delete the shortcut on your desktop, but not the program that it points to.
You will still be able to access the programs using the start menu.
If you want to remove a program and not just its shortcut, you need to go to the Control Panel and open “Add/Remove Programs” un-install programs from there.
Elizabeth
Another option for controlling the shortcuts is to use the program that puts them into a folder. [I think it's part of Windows]
Right click anywhere on the desktop.
Select “Arrange icons by”
then select “Run desktop cleanup wizard”
It creates a folder and moves the icons you haven’t been using often into it.
As an alternative, and the way I’ve organized my icons, is to just create folders for the different types of things I have,[cleanup & maintenance, programs, lists, games, etc.] and drag the icons into it.
I also use the hidden toolbar that you gave instructions for a while ago.
Thanks for all your help, Ruth
I like to keep lots of shortcuts, but I make separate “new” folders and mark them shopping, travel, etc. then I drop the shortcuts into the proper folder and clean up my desktop.