Make icon invisible

That method does work, however it is dependant on the folder options you stated above. My method works, and is not dependant on these options. Neither method affects the use (or otherwise) of any keyboard shortcuts assigned to it.

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

Yes it is 2 clicks, but the advantage is that it is always available in the taskbar whilst your desktop is not. You have to also either click on something or Win+D to get to the desktop. And then your have to find your way back to where you were. But if you want really fast, get a dock and hide it. For the "fast ones", I use Rocket Dock.

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.

You are right Kari. But there are some traps as you have seen with my unhidden folders.

whs said:

You are right Kari. But there are some traps as you have seen with my unhidden folders.

Yes, that does set you back, but the average user doesn't have hidden folders shown as they aren't shown by default.

It could be argued that if a user knows how to show hidden files and folders, then they would know how to turn them off again

ie9 said:

whs said:

You are right Kari. But there are some traps as you have seen with my unhidden folders.

Yes, that does set you back, but the average user doesn't have hidden folders shown as they aren't shown by default.

It could be argued that if a user knows how to show hidden files and folders, then they would know how to turn them off again

LOL - what else does one have to remember. Even a non-average user forgets things. And an average user probably does not want to muck around with it in the first place.

whs said:

LOL - what else does one have to remember. Even a non-average user forgets things. And an average user probably does not want to muck around with it in the first place.

Sure people forget things, but a semi-transparent icon says to me that it's hidden, maybe I've messed around with hidden files too much though.

And saying that the average user doesn't want to muck with hidden folders explains my reasoning for using the hidden file/folder method to make it disappear anyways. Just change it to hidden and you're set.

Bottom line is that we've given the OP two effective methods to accomplish the task that they set out to do. Everyone will choose the method they want to and we now have documentation on our options should anyone ask on how to make their folders/files invisible in the future.

Unfortunately, I have discovered that my method of hiding the shortcut overlay doesn't work correctly. It appears to, but when I restart the area of the main icon where the shortcut overlay is normally located is missing.

However, there is an alternative way of achieving this. Again, this involves editing the HKLM branch of the registry, so this will need to be done by running regedit with administrative credentials.

Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\lnkfile



To remove the shortcut overlay, delete the IsShortcut entry.



To reinstate the shortcut overlay, simply reinstate the IsShortcut entry (this is a String Value).

As before, log off/on or restart for changes to take effect.

Dwarf said:

snip...

If you've put that much time into it, you might as well make it a tutorial

I might just do that.

However, this has left me with a puzzling question regarding the shortcut overlays. Why does my first method appear to work, even after logging off/on, but exhibit this problem on a restart?