Clean Up Your Desktop!

[35Pete]

Are you a cyberslob? Do you have 50 icons on your screen so that your monitor looks like a compete mess?

Here's an easy way to clean up that pig sty and make things easier to find.

1. Add folders to your desktop.

2. Name those folders according to major subgroups. I organized mine into...

a. Microsoft Office 2007
b. Audio & Video
c. C++, Java, SQL, Ect..
d. Computer Shortcuts (General Applications)
e. PC Security
f. System Tools
g. Tax Stuff (tax files, software, ect...)
h. TV Stuff (TV tuner applications and related SW)
i. Whitehat Project (Geeks will know what I am talking about)

3. Organize your 50,000 icons by drag and dropping the shortcuts into appropriate folders.

I keep Firefox and Email icons out of folders because I use them so much.

I also limit the number of resident programs that I load at startup so that my machine loads faster. Those include (but are not limited to) the taskbar that you have at the bottom right corner of your PC. I have 8 items there. That's all that I really use. Why load them into memory if you only use them once a week?

Here is a picture of my desktop. Notice that I pasted a jpeg on each folder to 1.) make it look interesting and less bland, and 2.) give me a quick visual as to what's in the folder.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/petes_desktop.jpg

Here's a closeup of some of the folders:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/PC_folders.jpg

Here is a taskbar that is streamlined. Mind you, I've got 2 GB of RAM and a dual-core uP but I still keep the junk off of my taskbar for speedy bootups and freeing up RAM. So should you.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/toolbar.jpg

If you don't know how to do any of this stuff then ask.

Now, let's open the Microsoft Office 2007 folder....

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/folder.jpg

I set the view to "large icons". You'll see 15 applications in that folder. If I didn't use folders I'd have 50-60 icons on my desktop and it would be a mess. Even harder to find programs.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/folder.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/pete_sig.jpg

[35Pete]

To create a folder and add a jpeg then do the follow:

1. On the desktop right click your mouse and select New->folder.

2. Name the folder (if you click out of the name accidentally then Right-click on the folder and select Rename from the menu).

3. Left-click out of the folder onto the desktop when done naming.


Now add a jpeg. Here is how it is done in Vista. Not much different from XP:

1. Right-click the folder again. Select Properties
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/menu.jpg

2. This interface should pop up (or one similar in XP)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/properties.jpg

3. Click the Customize tab.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/customize.jpg

4. Select Choose File option.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/browse.jpg

5. Click Computer in the left menu array.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/navigate-1.jpg

6. Navigate to the jpeg or gif that you want to add (See Notes).

7. Select file, click Open, then Apply, then OK.

That all there is to it.

Notes: Jpegs should ALWAYS be preferred for color images over Gifs. They are larger than gifs so if your pic is text only or black and white then pic Gif instead.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/35Pete/pete_sig.jpg

[35Pete]

Next Topic: Safe Hex (Internet Security for the Average Person)

[Billsman]

What are folders and what the hell is a desk top?

[35Pete]

What are folders and what the hell is a desk top?

What a loser. He probably drinks beer and dated cute girls in High School.

[sukie]

Pete... best way to clean it up is to pitch it out a window and get a MAC.

[emo]

vista is so gay

[35Pete]

vista is so gay

Tell you what. Don't get it yet. I was stupid and didn't wait for the bugs to be worked out. It can drive me nuts.

Wait 6 months until all the major issues have been corrected. Already I have been on the phone with Microsoft for a number of issues that I usually correct quite easily.