Windows Desktop - List instead of Icons

economiser

Is it possible to replace all those irritating icons with a list of applications on windows desktop? Rather as one can with files in folders?

K9ine

economiser wrote: »

Is it possible to replace all those irritating icons with a list of applications on windows desktop? Rather as one can with files in folders?

Hmmm, yes and no.

There are small applications available online that will do this for you.

I have a very minimal desktop, it either has no icons (View as Web Page, Hide icons when the desktop is viewed as a Web page) or very few icons (My Computer, My Documents, My Network, Recycle Bin) - I'm still using Windows 98SE.

I always use the Start Menu (with small icons) or the Quick Launch toolbar.

Almost all my Microsoft programs are in Start > Programs > Accessories.
Other sub folders of Start > Programs include Games, Productivity, Creativity and Tools. Most of these subfolders have a folder called xtra which I move all program start-menu-folders as installed into and I copy the actual program shortcut back to the main subfolder

K9ine

firthjm

economiser wrote: »

Is it possible to replace all those irritating icons with a list of applications on windows desktop? Rather as one can with files in folders?

Directly no, you need a 3rd party program or a diffrent shell to do it.

economiser

I think I have found a simple answer. Made a folder on desktop and copied shortcuts into it. Now my desktop has just one folder. Click on to it and I have my alphabetical list. So much more straightforward than icons. Is it possible to open my new folder automatically on startup?

K9ine

economiser wrote: »

Is it possible to open my new folder automatically on startup?

You could try createing a shortcut to your new folder into the startup-folder which should be somewhere in your start menu. I'm fairly certain this will work.

K9ine

ABH_3

economiser wrote: »

Is it possible to replace all those irritating icons with a list of applications on windows desktop? Rather as one can with files in folders?

You could try: http://www.launchy.net/
or http://home.cogeco.ca/~rklauncher/

I believe if you have an nvidia graphics card, you can also update your graphics card drivers and in the options is 'nview' which has the option of creating virtual desktops. Or you could install Microsoft Power Toys http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx which according to the site 'Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy'. Or there's 3rd party programs something like this http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/ with powertoys you can remove the desktop icons mynetworksplaces, mydocuments and the recyclebin iirc.

As for hiding desktop icons:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1119983703
http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=5998

HTH

alanrowell

1) Right Click on the grey area at the bottom of your your screen
2) Select "Toolbars"
3) Select "Desktop"

You should then have "Desktop >>" in the grey area, clicking on the ">>" brings up your desktop.

4) Right Click on an empty area of your Desktop
5) Select "Arrange Icons by"
6) Untick "Show Desktop Items"

To tidy up even further use the folder tip