[terabytecomputer]

April 1st has come and gone, so you'll have to wait for next year to do this one......or not.

As you may already know, you can hide all desktop icons pretty easily in Windows XP (Vista too?) by right-clicking the desktop and selecting 'Arrange Icons By', then uncheck 'Show Desktop Icons'.

However, before you do that:
1. Press 'PrtScn' on your keyboard to take a snapshot of the desktop. (Make sure all programs are minimized or closed before doing this).
2. Next, open your favorite paint program (Paint will do just fine) and paste the image into it (Ctrl-V).
3. Save the image as whatever file you want, noting the location.
4. Change the desktop wallpaper to the image you just saved.
5. Hide all desktop icons.

What you'll have now is a picture of all icons on the desktop, with the user's original wallpaper, but no icons really visible. When the user starts clicking away on the 'icons', try not to wet yourself laughing when none of the programs work. Be sure to act surprised and spend some time helping them 'troubleshoot'.

Warning! Don't do this on a computer someone needs to use in a hurry unless you're there to restore the icons. I did and the user was pretty upset because he's on a helpdesk and couldn't help the customers. Um.....lesson learned? Prolly not. I'd do it again. It's hilarious.

[Jack Hackett]

You've only just found this out, where you been?!??!
this has been around for donkeys years, it was about before we even had colour monitors
Ah well, enjoy playing catch up with the rest of the world

[Knotbored]

Its actually a goood free security method to secure a PC while you go out of town. The desktop seems to be locked up, and anyone snooping that doesn't know the trick will restart the computer then give up when nothing seems to work.

[terabytecomputer]

Originally Posted by Jack Hackett

You've only just found this out, where you been?!??!

I've been too busy to hang out on forums.

No, I didn't just find this out. I've known it a long time, just haven't shared it with anyone. Glad to see I'm not the only dinosaur out there.

[daniel_b2380]

and another one:
http://forums.techguy.org/all-other-...joke-gone.html

[gatewaypc700]

LOL
I did this a few years ago, to my friends desktop.
At the time I was 12...
I created a folder called "sexy ladies"
He went nuts trying to delete it, restarting his computer and everything!
I think that it may still be there xD
James

[Wallenberg]

I'd be real careful before playing any pranks - even if you think they are "harmless".

I know one guy who got played and reformatted his hard drive and re-installed Windows because he thought his PC had been attacked by a virus.

He didn't laugh once when he heard how "harmless" the prank was.

I'm sure you mean no harm. I'm just saying you can't tell what can happen.

[terabytecomputer]

Thanks Dad.

Disclaimer (for those who don't know better): You should stick around for the laughs when you prank someone. Then you'll be there to stop them before they do something stupid.

All better now?

[midders]

I once hacked the windows executable of Windows for Workgroups (Yes, that long ago) using a resource compiler and making it impossible to log off nicely. You just got a long series of dialog boxes as below:

Log Off->
- Are you sure? Yes/No/Cancel
- Are you really sure? Yes/No/Cancel
- Are you really, really sure? Yes/No/Cancel
- Are you really, really, really sure? Yes/No/Cancel
- Are you really, really, really, really sure? Yes/No/Cancel
- I don't believe you. Ok button only.

I set it up as a batch file called from autoexec.bat that would rename win.com, move the hacked file into place, run it, then delete the executable and batch file, and restore the original win.com, so that by the time you saw the message the evidence was already deleted

Sláinte

midders
P.S. and yes, you definitely had to stick around to laugh at the results!

[terabytecomputer]

Oh wow, I think Micro$oft stole your code. They call it Vista.

Nice though.

[Frank4d]

How about a BSOD screensaver? http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb897558.aspx

[terabytecomputer]

Yeah, I've seen that one long ago also. I like it.

[gatewaypc700]

That bsod screen saver really scared the **** out of some tech guys when i put it on my grandmas pc b 4 i sent it in.

[StumpedTechy]

Oh there are a ton of these "Harmless Pranks" you can play.

The one I like the most is the vbs that you can copy to a PC and remotely run and it will 1) Unmute the audio if its muted 2) set the volume to max and 3) it will make the computer speek anything you type in it. just imagine the fun there.

I have done this at work with me living in Orlando and freaked out someone stationed in California.

[daniel_b2380]

techy,
i like that one