How much do desktop icons slow you down?

[Newmaven]

I have two monitors and deal with a lot of different topics, so I have a lot of icons on my desktop for quick access.

I've been hearing for years that desktop icons slow the system. How much do they slow it? If you put fice icons into one desktop folder, does that count as 1, or 5, or 6? Do shortcut icons slow things?

 

[alphaniner]

I've heard that overuse of desktop icons can reduce productivity (eg. slows you down) but never that it slows down the system.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea if they are just shortcuts I doubt it but then again not all systems are created equally

Most people like neat and clean desktops though
If they need more than the start button listings they would create a toolbar on the taskbar to quickly access programs/ files/....

Startup might suffer a little since the desktop manager must pull up all these shortcuts.

 

[Callender]

I've heard that overuse of desktop icons can reduce productivity (eg. slows you down) but never that it slows down the system.

Agreed. Personally I keep desktop clear of shortcuts and instead use a launcher and use it assign shortcuts to files or folders. The launcher appears/ disappears at the press of a button when needed/ not needed.

​

Toolbars are another option that some users prefer:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/72092-toolbars-how-use-windows-7-vista.html

 

[AddRAM]

They don`t slow a good machine down at all, but then there is no reason to keep any icons on your desktop.

 

[Layback Bear]

To answer the question

How much do desktop icons slow you down?

Desktop icons have never slowed my systems that I was ever able to detect.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I've never noticed a slowdown using desktop icons. If a person has so many icons they have to hunt for the one they want, that could cause a slowdown in productivity but it will not slow down the system. Of course, grouping the icons by type and listing them alphabetically will speed up access to them.

I access my most frequently used programs from the Quick Launch menu and notification area on my task bar and the other programs from the Start menu. Most of the icons I have on the desktop are shortcuts to folders and files I frequently access. I prefer using shortcuts since they will allow me to keep the folders and files themselves on drives other than my C: drive. Occasionally, I will put a shortcut to a new program on the desktop temporarily until I decide if I want to keep it or not.

 

[UsernameIssues]

~~~
I've been hearing for years that desktop icons slow the system.
~~~

I'm not sure what aspect of a system would slow down due to desktop objects (shortcuts, files, folders).

Maybe the time that it takes Windows to create/paint and auto-align the desktop objects:
As a test, I used the tool from this tutorial (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/720-restart-time.html) to measure the restart/reboot time of one of my virtual machines. I was not able to tell any difference between 2 objects on the desktop and lots of objects. I had VirtualBox create 8 displays for my VM and had Windows extend the desktop across them. That let me test with 800+ desktop objects... but still no slowdown during reboot. So, I took the number of desktop objects to 4200+. Not that 4200+ items could be displayed, but I was testing to see if some extreme number slowed things down. It did not.

The tool in that tutorial probably does not wait for the desktop objects to show up before displaying the reboot time, but the desktop and the message box seemed to appear at the same time for me.

I doubt that the desktop objects would slow down the launching of apps. I'm not even going to test for that.

...but then there is no reason to keep any icons on your desktop.

I glanced at the desktop of a dozen coworkers and all of them had more than 30 objects on their desktop. I currently have a lot more than 30 objects on my desktop. Some of those are folders which have dozens of files inside of them. (e.g. files that let me remote into other computers). Some "folders" on my desktop are really hard links to folders on a file server. The hard link allows those "folders" to work as a menu via the Desktop toolbar on the Task bar as if the "folders" were really local. Items that need attention in the next few days go in the center of the desktop. More permanent objects stay around the edges. But that is just me

I've been mindful of how many desktop objects people have for years... so I have a bit of data on it - if only in my head. The company that I work for has several levels of computer support. I've met nearly every support person at every level and almost without exception, the higher the level, the more desktop objects. Perhaps when one reaches the highest level, one realizes that a desktop devoid of icons is best. I'll probably never get there

 

[GokAy]

I'll probably never get there

Uni, would you like to even if you could? Managerial job is such a boring one, I would take a technical one any day instead

Wonder how others think?

 

[alphaniner]

Wonder how others think

Some managerial positions are just bureaucratic/functionary. Sometimes this is due to the manager (lazy, incompetent, self-serving), other times it's due to poor policy - often implemented by lazy, incompetent, self-serving upper management.

Other times, a skilled and diligent person in a managerial position can be the difference between the failure or success of an organization, or between the organization "just surviving" and thriving. The kind of person suited for those kinds of managerial positions finds [productive] ways to keep from becoming bored. Unfortunately, this often results in lazy, incompetent, self-serving upper management implementing the aforementioned policies to cut them off at the knees, lest others realize that they (upper management) are lazy, incompetent, and self-serving.

 

[GokAy]

You have put it very nicely Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...there is no reason to keep any icons on your desktop.

I totally disagree. First, that was what MS intended the desktop to be for. Second, not everyone has the same work flow. What works for some people may not work for others. Some people find it easier to find their programs on the desktop, others prefer to keep the desktop clear for displaying pretty pictures. One of the great things about Win 7 is people have choices on how to use it.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Been there. Done that. Twice. Hope to never be a manager again.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Wonder how others think

Some managerial positions are just bureaucratic/functionary. Sometimes this is due to the manager (lazy, incompetent, self-serving), other times it's due to poor policy - often implemented by lazy, incompetent, self-serving upper management.

Other times, a skilled and diligent person in a managerial position can be the difference between the failure or success of an organization, or between the organization "just surviving" and thriving. The kind of person suited for those kinds of managerial positions finds [productive] ways to keep from becoming bored. Unfortunately, this often results in lazy, incompetent, self-serving upper management implement the aforementioned policies to cut them off at the knees, lest others realize that they (upper management) are lazy, incompetent, and self-serving.

The last two companies I worked for (32 years and 5 1/2 years), lower management was horribly abused by upper management, mostly because they were salaried with no set hours and could have the work piled onto them, no longer how long it took to get it done. Also, lower management was the scapegoat for the mistakes of the people that were under them and of upper management. The higher up the corporate ladder people in management went, the more thay acted like kindergarteners and the less they knew of what was going on down in the ranks. Too often, people in management were incompetents or were antisocial and the easiest way to get rid of them from a department was to "kick them upstairs". I've had a taste of working in management and simply didn't like it.

 

[Layback Bear]

Maybe a related question is; does a pretty picture on the desktop without icon use more resources than a plain one color desktop with icons?
I don't know the answer.
Isn't it great, that with Windows 7 you have so many choices?

 

[AddRAM]

It all really depends on the amount of memory you have, you have 8 GB, so don`t even worry about it.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

It all really depends on the amount of memory you have, you have 8 GB, so don`t even worry about it.

I have only 32GB. Should I be worried?

 

[AddRAM]

LF, can you add anything constructive to the conversation ???

I think the sun is starting to melt your brain

And with Kingston memory installed, I would always be worried :haha:

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

LF, can you add anything constructive to the conversation ???

I think the sun is starting to melt your brain

And with Kingston memory installed, I would always be worried :haha:

Who put the burr under your saddle? I was joking.

I have owned quite a few Kingston products (thumb drives, SD cards, RAM). None have failed and all have worked great!

 

[AddRAM]

Come on, I was born with a Burr under my saddle, and a bee in my bonnet, and yes my cheerios do taste funny.

I just hate it when people quote me, and you did it 3 times in this thread alone, I know you were joking, it was just a silly comment on your part.

If I was serious I`d of put this :mad2: instead of a loving

Come in out of the sun