How to remove everythig from desktop?

[ranjan2001]

I remember reading it in context of XP & assume that same can be done with win7 too.

I want the desktop to be clean with no icon or selected few icons like mac desktops. IF I save anything on the Desktop it should not show on desktop but it should go to another folder named Desktop which shows as shortcut on the desktop. I guess the article mentioned moving the system Desktop folder somewhere elsewhere.

I have a bad habit of cluttering the desktop & want to avoid it.
Do you know any tutorial how to make the desktop elsewhere?

 

[nate42nd]

You could go to "personalization" and select whatever main icons you want and then just make a shortcut on the desktop and drag anything you want to keep into that folder. Keep it in your documents or something.

This would get you where you want to be. Good luck.
Let me know if this is NOT what you're thinking.

View attachment 10171

 

[Orbital Shark]

A lot of software gives the option whether or not to install a desktop shortcut. You could create a directory on your desktop with the icons placed in that i suppose

 

[swarfega]

Thats what I do, I create a folder for programs and another folder for games. Ive put a lot of icons on the taskbar and deleted the ones on the desktop as well.

 

[nate42nd]

I think you guys are right. If you want to be organized...put what you use on the taskbar and make a folder that you can put other things into so the desktop does not get cluttered.

I only have recycle bin - computer - personal folder - and SIW.exe on my desktops.
4 icons. It seems to work fine.​

 

[swarfega]

You can put recycle.bin on taskbar as well: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/6687-recycle-bin-pin-taskbar.html?ltr=R

 

[Orbital Shark]

Handy solution to Dektop Cleanup

I've been looking for a decent solution to this and have found the following is rather handy.

Step 1: Add a new folder in your user folder ("Games & Software" is as good as any). [See Pic 1 & 2]

Step 2: Add a new Send To option by navigating to C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo and create a shortcut to the new folder . [See Pic 3]

Step 4: Right-click the task bar & under Toolbars & New Toolbar, select the folder that you created and it will appear on the taskbar. [See Pic 4]

Now, you can right-click any icon on the desktop & Send To [new folder] and the icons will appear in the taskbar toolbar. You can now delete the icon from the desktop without any hitch.



Hope this helps

 

[Orbital Shark]

Just to note, the method above is not the same as selecting Desktop from the Taskbar toolbars.

 

[Mark]

The best solution I think would be to keep stuff on your desktop but just use the the view settings to hide it.



Then just add the desktop to your taskbar as a toolbar like this.



Another great thing about having it like this means you can access virtually every thing with only 2 clicks.

 

[Orbital Shark]

Very true, personally I prefer to see the icons

 

[ranjan2001]

Thanks to all for answering, I have already tried few suggestion I actually want the convenience of dragging the web page shortcut to desktop but not want the desktop to clutter, so I need the folder redirection.

I found that article which I mentioned.
WindowsDevCenter.com: Using Folder Redirection

I drag to or save a file to desktop but instead it goes to my custom created folder named "Ranjan desktop"
Is it possible to do folder redirection as mentioned in the above article within windows 7 x64 build 7100?

 

[Orbital Shark]

You can access the same in Vista/Seven just type edit group in the start menu search bar

 

[ranjan2001]

Thanks Orbital Shark,
I found that setting now when I open the folder redirection where do I tell the OS to direct my files, there should be some place to type the path to the redirected folder.

On my d drive I have created a folder "Ranjan desktop" now anything I should save on main desktop should not show on the desktop but it should save to "Ranjan Desktop".

however Ranjan desktop shortcut should be visible on the main desktop.
I need step by step too dumb here.

 

[Dinesh]

I just keep all the most required icons either on taskbar or on the dock.

 

[Orbital Shark]

I've not used the Group Policies Editor before so i'll have to do a little digging and i'll try to get back to ya.

You should just be able to access c:\users\[username]\Desktop & try to put a shortcut to your other folder here

 

[ranjan2001]

I just keep all the most required icons either on taskbar or on the dock.
View attachment 10208

Dinesh I have that too, its just that I have too many programs to be used so I already have a folder called icons in which i keep less used program icons & frequently used are on the toolbar.

My typical day usage will get me 8-10 images saved on desktop & 4-5 web pages link, this is done on desktop bcoz they are not required for long term but I am lazy & forget them to be delete the ones I don't need. At the same time there are some which I need for long term, so in 15 days time I have a fully disorganized desktop which i am ashamed to show here.

If redirection can work then it would solve my issue.

Orbital Shark take your time, no hurry.
Thanks for helping!

 

[Dinesh]

Hi Ranjan, even i use a folder on the desktop which contains all the desktop icons.

i know what you are looking for thats simply how you customize.

 

[ranjan2001]

You should just be able to access c:\users\[username]\Desktop & try to put a shortcut to your other folder here

That's the way I am using it as of now but that does not prevent me from saving the shortcuts & files on main desktop. I want to completely stop that so the files are dragged onto desktop but they get redirected on to my custom folder instead.

 

[symbiont]

This is what I use to keep mine clean looking, but still have easy access to everything I want when I need it.

Fences by Stardock

 

[DocBrown]

I just created a folder called DeskTop Extras & put everything extra in there!