Organize Your Windows Desktop Icons
Cluttered Windows Desktops Will Slow Down Your Work. Get Organized!
Have you ever re-arranged part of your home just to give it that fresh look? Didn’t it feel good? Well, your desktop is no exception. You can just as easily rearrange your desktop icons for a whole new look. As there are a few features to the desktop, let’s just start with one for now, the icons. If you’ve ever tried moving icons around on your screen, you may have done so only to have them return to their original spots. Try as you might, the icons tire not. Until now, that is, because Mr. Tech knows how to shake them loose.
You see, by default, in some versions of Windows, the ‘Auto-Arrange’ option is set, so even if you move your icons around, they’ll just pop right back to their original spot. The solution: turn the ‘Auto-Arrange’ option off.
Right-click on your desktop and choose ‘Arrange Icons’ from the menu and click on the ‘Auto Arrange’ option. This will remove the check mark next to it. Now, go back to your desktop and start arranging your screen the way it was intended to be — your way!
How Many Icons or Shortcuts Are Really Necessary on Your Desktop?
This is really an easy answer that many will disagree but every time I see a cluttered desktop I usually find that the user has given up on most of the shortcut icons a long time ago. Storing hundreds of files and folders on the desktop is also something that I see over and over again but not something you should get in the habit of, especially if you work on a company network. I can’t tell you which icons to keep handy on your desktop but I can give you an idea based on how I work. Everyday I use Firefox, Internet Explorer, Outlook, Notepad, Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop so I have a shortcut to all of these on my desktop. At any given time I could be working on a document or two and also a website or two as well as editing a picture or two but I am sure you get the point by now. I keep a shortcut to the project folder(s) that I am working on as well as a few shortcuts to the document(s) I am working on. When I am done and moved on to other things, I delete the shortcut but the files remain intact in their original locations.
Finally, an easy way to create a new shortcut on your desktop is to RIGHT-CLICK on the folder or file and then drag it (don’t let go your click yet) to the desktop and drop it there (let go your click now). A small dialogue box will appear asking you what to do…choose ‘create shortcut here’ and you are now on your way to an organized desktop.
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