[Ham-Computers] RE: Items in Desktop Folder not seen on Desktop

[Marty]

I don=92t like dealing with all that or scouring the desktop for icons =
so I
UNcheck "show desktop items" and have everything I need pop out from the
left side of my screen when I need it. The task bar is adjustable and =
can be
set to come from the top, bottom, right or left of your screen. You can =
make
the task bar pop out up to almost half the size of your screen. There is
plenty of room for lists/icons. When your curser moves off it, it
automatically tucks back out of the way.

This sounds much more complicated than it is and can be done in a matter =
of
minutes. First thing I do when setting up a new system is drag the task =
bar
to the left side of the screen (it remembers and comes back that way =
from
then on). Then I grab the right edge of the task bar and pull it to the
right as far as it will go to increase the taskbar screen size for a one
time 'setup'. Right click on the task bar and click on Toolbars > Links,
Desktop and Quicklaunch. I don't like the large icon default so I right
click on a blank space in each of these areas ('lock taskbar' must be
Unchecked) and click View > Small Icons. You can drag the little bar to =
the
left of these toolbars individually and position them on the task bar =
where
you like. I have Quicklaunch on top, Desktop underneath and stretched =
out to
take up most of the area, and Links (which shows up as a nice vertical =
list)
to the right of both of the other two with some area above Links for the
'opened web pages' to show up in a vertical/clickable list. Right click =
on
the taskbar, click Properties; these should by checked on the Taskbar =
'tab'
screen- Lock the taskbar, Auto-hide..., Keep...taskbar on top..., Show =
Quick
Launch. While there I check 'show clock' and Uncheck 'hide inactive =
icons'
(some interesting inactive icons can show up that should or shouldn't be
there!)

When I need anything, I just slide my mouse (actually Wacom pen) over to =
the
left and there it is! Everything in nice small icons with or without =
text
(optional to my liking) and I can drag and rearrange to my heart's =
content
if needed (UNlock taskbar first, relock when done).

Marty =20

-----Original Message-----
From: ham-computers at mailman.qth.net On Behalf Of Hsu, Aaron (NBC =
Universal)
Sent: Friday, May 04, 2007 12:38 PM
To: I>Ham-Computers
Subject: [Ham-Computers] RE: Items in Desktop Folder not seen on Desktop

>>> Jim wrote:
For those who have not tried it, right-click anywhere on a blank area on =
the
desktop and select Arrange Icons By.  Options for arranging the desktop =
are
seen.  The choice seems to be a one-shot; if you manually rearrange the
icons, they remain where you positioned them when the computer is =
restarted.

>>> My reply:
Be careful with this suggestion!  Most people have icons arranged in a
particular order and if you select any one of the options, your desktop
icons will be re-sorted to match.  If you have a "ton" of icons on the
desktop (like me), then having to re-place all of them is a royal pain =
in
the butt!  Of course, every once in a blue moon, Windows "hiccups" and
resorts the desktop icons by name - I hate when this happens as I'm one =
who
has "tons" of icons on the desktop.


>>> Jim wrote:
Cleaning the desktop is another situation.  Access by right clicking the
desktop again, select Properties, Desktop, Customize Desktop.  Checking =
the
box causes the desktop to be cleaned periodically until you uncheck the =
box.

>>> My reply:
"Desktop Cleanup" is on by default in Windows XP.  It can be good and it =
can
be a source of endless fustration.  It's good because it "removes" icons
that haven't been used in a certain timeframe - unused icons are moved =
to a
folder called "unused items" (IIRC).  The fustration comes in when =
you're
not familiar with how Desktop Cleanup works and, all of a sudden, half =
your
desktop icons disappear!  Of course, you can go into the "unused icons"
folder and move them back to the desktop, but, again, unless you knew =
how
Desktop Cleanup works, you'll think that the icons got deleted somehow =
and
be all fustrated at Windows.

I generally recommend that Desktop Cleanup be turned off and the first
person that people call when icons disappear is me.  It's not worth the
headache for anyone and most people don't even remember what Desktop =
Cleanup
does.  All they know is that "My xyz file is no longer on the desktop - =
it's
the only copy I had and I really need to get it back - please help!!!".  =
As
simple as the solution is, it's just not worth anyone's headache.  =
Microsoft
had good intentions with Desktop Cleanup, but it causes far too many
headaches - at least for me.

73,

  - Aaron Hsu, NN6O

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3:32 PM
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