How to delete Desktop/taskbar Icon

[tcat7]

I've been using W7 for a few weeks, decided I like using the Libraries. I like to keep my taskbar at the left with common launch items (as few as possible). The icon "Tom" (user), and Libraries, Network, recycle, and Control Panel, automatically appear, and don't seem to be deletable. I'd like to get rid of "Tom", "Network", and "Control Panel". I have all boxes unchecked in the Desktop Icon settings menu. Right clicking "delete" doesn't do it. I'd also like to know where (if) to change the font on these icons (they do not change with the icon appearance settings).

 

[A Guy]

I've been using W7 for a few weeks, decided I like using the Libraries. I like to keep my taskbar at the left with common launch items (as few as possible). The icon "Tom" (user), and Libraries, Network, recycle, and Control Panel, automatically appear, and don't seem to be deletable. I'd like to get rid of "Tom", "Network", and "Control Panel". I have all boxes unchecked in the Desktop Icon settings menu. Right clicking "delete" doesn't do it. I'd also like to know where (if) to change the font on these icons (they do not change with the icon appearance settings).

Perhaps try right clicking the taskbar, and making sure lock the taskbar is unchecked. Did you add those choices to the taskbar? As they are not put on taskbar automatically. Can you right click them and choose Unpin from taskbar?

A Guy

 

[tcat7]

I did not put them there. They all have a delete button, but they remain there after delete. None of them have an unpin item. The CP one when opened is in "category" mode, and if I change that to large icons, it goes back to category next open.... so I use the Start menu CP, since it stays where I put it. None of them are in the C/USERS/TOM/DESKTOP folder (or in all users folder). It's like "Desktop Icon Settings" ignores the 5 unchecked items there. I tried checking those boxes and then deleting, and unchecking then deleting... nothing gets rid of them. When I view "show desktop icons", none of those 5 are on the desktop (the others are). So, the items in the taskbar, seem to be treated differently than the items on the desktop, even though they are listed under "Desktop". Dazed and Confused...

 

[A Guy]

YOU are confused, I'm confused why all those items are on your taskbar in the first place, whether it is on the left or not. It almost looks like some kind of sidebar. If you change the taskbar position to bottom, do they all stay there? Are the options still the same?

A Guy

 

[tcat7]

Taskbar Items

Same items when moved to bottom:

 

[alphanumeric]

If you right click on your taskbar and go to the "Toolbars" option I think you will see that "Desktop" is checked. If you remove the check mark the Icons you don't want should go away. You may loose some you want too, but I think it's all or none if you use the Desktop Toolbar. Mine always has 2 control panel icons and if I delete one it just comes back again so I stooped using it.

 

[tcat7]

Yeah, they all disappear. I use them as my main links rather than having icons on the open part of my desktop. Just odd I can add and delete anything else in that pane, except those 5 items. They should be linked in some folder "somewhere"... anyone have a list of Registry keys in "Namespace", that might eliminate them? They can easily be added as shortcuts anytime.

 

[alphanumeric]

Instead of using the desktop toolbar try going to your desktop and right click the icons you do want and select "Pin to taskbar".

 

[A Guy]

Ahhh good catch Alpha. I was thinking pinning desktop to taskbar somehow. Guess I was barking up wrong tree all along, good you came along. A Guy

 

[tcat7]

Good thought, but I don't seem to get text with a pinned taskbar item. Shortcuts on the desktop, with "hide desktop items" checked, puts them in the taskbar with labels (like I have/like them). I have the same thing at work on XP, the "Computer", "Network", "CP", "My Docs", "Recycle" don't go away with delete there either. I can live with it if no one knows where this info is stored and knows a safe way to delete it.

 

[alphanumeric]

No you won't get the text labels unless you hover your cursor over the ICON on the taskbar. Personally, I prefer it that way. I always ditched the title and text labels for the Desktop Tool bar in XP. To each his own though, everybody has different ways of doing things. My advice though is to backup your registry and make a system restore point before you do any editing in the windows registry. If you muck that up really bad things can happen.

 

[tcat7]

OK, just figured out how to do what I want! I created a "New Toolbar", called it Launch Pad, and moved all the Desktop items I wanted to it. Then unchecked "Toolbar - Desktop". Looks the same (without the unwanted icons), and gives me complete add/delete control.

The last suggestion was also good, but when I hover, it takes like 2 seconds for text to appear. Is there anyway to speed that up? (maybe turn off animations... but I like some of the other animations)

Edit: Added Pix of Desktop with changed Toolbar, changed WMP icon. Picture is Desktop in slideshow mode. W7 is cool!

 

[Stoo]

A Possible Solution??

Go to `Control Panel/Appearance & Personalisation/Personalisation/Change Desktop Icons`
Or type `icon` in the Start/Search box and select `Show or Hide Common Icons on the Desktop`

Up pops `Desktop Icon Settings` which allows you to add or remove the `Computer`, `User`s Files`, `Network`, and `Recycle Bin`.

I think this is what you were really looking for and I only found it because they all popped up along with the `Libraries` icon. Which is the only one left to remove now. Not that I`ve managed that yet, but all of the rest.

Hope this helps and ya add a bitta rep for me. Cheers, Stoo