Make icon invisible

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  1. Posts : 13
    win 7
    Thread Starter
       #21

    Thanks Kari,

    That gave the icon a 10-20% gradient fill, but I can still see it

    thanks
    goss
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13
    win 7
    Thread Starter
       #22

    Thanks all,

    I like the Toolbar video and I used to clenaup my entire desktop
    I love the minimalist look
    However I hate point to Toolbar..point to subfolder..click on shortcut or document
    I need to be faster than that

    I did right click on Notepad and Excel in the Start..Program Panel
    Chose properties and assigned a keyboard shortcut
    Hopefully, the shortcut will remain in force at all times but I have already seen the keyboard shortcut not work as I was trying the different tutorials above

    -Keyboard shortcut did not work once I put the shortcuts in a folder and added the folder to a toolbar

    -Keyboard shortcut did not work when I sent the shortcut to the trash can

    thanks
    goss
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #23

    That simply means you have Show hidden files and folders enabled in Folder Options > View. Disable it to hide the icons, files and folders you have chosen to hide.

    Make icon invisible-folder_properties_hidden_files.png

    Hiding icons is of course useless if you have chosen to show hidden files.

    Kari
      My Computer


  4. ie9
    Posts : 736
    Windows 7 Ultimate (SP1)
       #24

    doofenshmirtz said:
    Thanks Kari,

    That gave the icon a 10-20% gradient fill, but I can still see it

    thanks
    goss
    Try this tutorial, making sure that you can't see hidden files and folders, and see if that makes them disappear: Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide[2]

    Edit: Dang it Kari
    This is the tutorial showing you how to do what Kari said
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #25

    doofenshmirtz said:
    Hi all,

    Using Win 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
    I added Notepad and Excel Icons to desktop and assigned shortcut keys
    I would now like to make the icons invisible so as to clean up the desktop

    I was able to make the text invisible with Alt + 0160
    How can I make the icon invisible as well with the shortcut key still functioning

    Thanks
    goss
    This is quite simple. All you need are some blank icons, such as these: Blank Icons.zip Extract the contents, and save the resultant folder in the root of your HDD.

    To change the icon of a folder/file, simply point it to one of these files within this folder (I suggest the 256 x 256.ico file).

    Changing the shortcut overlay requires a little more work, and it involves editing the registry. Note that because we will be dealing with the HKLM branch, the editor will need to be run in elevated mode.

    Make icon invisible-capture.png
    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
    "29"="C:\\Blank Icons\\16 x 16.ico"
    The following two files make the necessary changes to the registry, the first removing the shortcut and the second restoring it. As mentioned above, because these keys affect the HKLM branch of the registry, you need to be using an account with administrative privileges in order to be able to successfully merge the files into the registry.

    remove overlay.reg

    restore overlay.reg

    Note that you will need to log off/on or restart for the change to take effect.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Make icon invisible-capture.png  
    Make icon invisible Attached Files
    Last edited by Dwarf; 09 Jan 2011 at 11:37.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #26

    Please geeks, allow me to say this and then I stay silent: I can not understand how a simple task like this is becoming so complicated. The easiest, simplest and fastest way is to use shortcut properties to hide the shortcut icon. No need for registry editing, blank icons and hidden characters in shortcut name.

    If Show hidden files and folders is not enabled in Folder Options, this hides the icon (or using OP's words makes it invisible). Assigned keyboard shortcut works also if or when shortcut is hidden.

    Kari
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #27

    I understand what you are saying, Kari, but your method simply removes them from the desktop altogether.The shortcuts simply aren't displayed any more, nor can they be clicked on. With my method, you can hide the shortcut icons (both the icon itself and the overlay), but if you click on the desktop where the icon used to be (it will highlight as you mouse over it) you will still open the relevant program/file. In other words, they are still there, but they are invisible.

    Here are 2 shortcuts for the same program, one visible and the other invisible. Note that I have also removed the shortcut overlays.

    Make icon invisible-capture.png
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #28

    Dwarf, it might be English being a foreign language to me, but I read OP that he does not want the icon to stay clickable on desktop. He wants to hide (= "make invisible") the icon and use assigned keyboard shortcut to launch it.

    For OP's question, hiding the icon is most elegant, easy to use and simplest solution. It also is the easiest to revert when / if needed.

    Kari
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9,582
    Windows 8.1 Pro RTM x64
       #29

    Kari said:
    Dwarf, it might be English being a foreign language to me, but I read OP that he does not want the icon to stay clickable on desktop. He wants to hide (= "make invisible") the icon and use assigned keyboard shortcut to launch it.

    For OP's question, hiding the icon is most elegant, easy to use and simplest solution. It also is the easiest to revert when / if needed.

    Kari
    I know where you're coming from, Kari, but he does state the following here:
    doofenshmirtz said:
    Thanks Mike,

    Sorry if I was clear
    I want to make icons invisible on a one-on-one basis, not all icons

    thanks
    goss
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #30

    And? Choose the icon you want to make invisible and set it to Hidden. One-by-one.
      My Computer


 
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