Quick Tip

005-2007

Too many icons? Let’s clean up the desktop.

TIP:  First let's put Quick Launch on the toolbar so that we can go to our most used programs with just one click.  Right click on any empty space on the task bar.  On the pop up menu make sure the taskbar is unlocked by removing the check mark next to Lock the Taskbar.  Go back up the menu to Toolbars and a second menu will appear.  Go down that menu to Quick Launch and click.  This will put a check mark next to Quick Launch and the menu will disappear.  If you look to the left side of the taskbar you will now see some new icons.  When an icon is in this area it only requires one click to open its corresponding program.

Now let’s enlarge these icons so that they can be easily seen.  Move your curser as close to the Start button as you can and right click.  A pop up menu will appear with View at the very top.  CAUTION:  IF THE TASKBAR IS LOCKED YOU WILL NOT GET THIS MENU.  When you move your curser to View a new menu will appear:  Click on Large Icons.  We are almost done with the taskbar.  Go to a blank area on the taskbar, right click, and on the menu that appears, click Lock the Taskbar.

To move an Icon to Quick Launch, click and hold on the icon and drag it to the Quick Launch.  The icon will appear there and on your desktop.  Avoid to many icons here as you don’t need them.  Remember if you remove any of them you do not loose the program just the shortcut icon.

Right click on a blank area of the desktop.  A menu appears.  Go to the top of the menu to Arrange Icons By and a new menu appears.  Go to the bottom of this menu, Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard and click on it.  A new window called the Desktop Cleanup Wizard appears.  Read the message and click next to continue. A new window opens that lets you select which icons you want moved to the unused desktop folder that will be created. I would select all except My Computer. Click Next and the next window shows you all the items you have selected. Click Finish and your desktop will be clean, showing only a couple of icons, i.e. My Computer-Unused Desktop Icons, and your desktop will be clean, uncluttered and ready to work.

In the future if you want to use one of the icons, open the folder, drag it to the desktop and it is ready to use.  When you are finished, drag it back to the folder to keep your work are clutter free.