I don't seem to have the [right-click/Arrange Icons By/show icons/don't show icons] option.
Why is that?
Running XP SP2.
I want to be able to see my wallpaper without seeing my icons.
A fancy method of making it disappear immediately then making it reappear when my mouse moves would be nice.
If not, just the plain 'ol way is fine.
Help, I can't seem to figure this one out.
I did that and rebooted.
Now I have another problem.
After selecting or unselecting "Show Decktop Icons" there is a HUGE delay before they appear or disappear.
Over 5secs.
What gives?
Also another minor problem.
When the Icins are now displayed, they are in "block format" The only way I can explain this is that the text of the icons are wraped in a box instead of letting me see [more] of the Wallpaper.
How d I fix this?
Sorry for asking so many petty questions.
And I need them all there.
God knows how many more I have crammed into various Folders.
Can someone help me out with Question #2 in my previous post?
Thank you so far guys!
SkdsterJust a suggestion for having so many icons on your desktop: Create folders for groups. Put all your applications in one, games in another, etc. You'll still have them on your desktop without so much clutter.
Sorry, one more thing: Run your spyware/adware software (SUPERantiSpyware is highly recommended) and reboot. I had a machine that I was working on that, every time I double clicked to open My Computer or any icon within My Computer, Windows tried finding website. For the life of me, I couldn't figure it out. Ran SuperantiSpyware and had no more problems. Many malware programs can change many different settings. It's worth a shot.
I have been using this small freebie for some time now and it does the trick for me---a double click on the desktop shortcut hides all of them and an another click on the "pair of eyes" in the sys tray brings 'em all back. And yes, it works on XP SP2. http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Authors/Cool_Bananas_Software.html
I have my Desktop set this way in XP Home
Don't know about other XP variations
Rt. click your taskbar.
Hover over "toolbars."
Choose "new toolbar.
In the "New Toolbar dialog box left click "Desktop," to highlight.
Choose "Make New Folder" button at lower left.
OK
You now have a "New Folder" on your desktop. BUT.
This is a Toolbar Folder!
Drag the folder to any open margin of your screen(left,right,or top) and drop it there.
You now have a new toolbar!
Go to the little bumpy line at the top of the new toolbar and Rt. click.
Choose "Always on top."
Do it again and choose "Auto-hide."
Now the toolbar will pop out when you bump that Desktop margin with your cursor.
Other Rt. click context choices are "Show text" (gives title of icons)
and "Show title." (Displays name of toolbar) " View" offers large or small icons.
But wait! The "New Folder" is still on the Desktop. Rename it as you wish, but leave it there.
Any shortcut icon you drag and drop into that folder appears in your new toolbar
AND disappears from your Desktop!
Shortcuts in the toolbar are one-click launch shortcuts, just like "Quick Launch."
All normal Rt. click shortcut icon context functions are available inside the toolbar.
Drag and drop inside the toolbar to arrange icons.
If you move the toolbar folder off the Desktop, you will lose all your icons.
Ditto if you put it in a containing folder. Just leave it there.
YES! You can do the same for the other empty margins of your Desktop and have four
Quick Launch toolbars that autohide, but are always on top even when you have the screen
full of something else. (I leave the Taskbar up and autohide the other three, but that's up to you.
Now when you get a new shortcut on your Desktop you can just drop it in whichever toobar you want.
To customize the covers of your three remaining desktop items
(I added a fourth-work folder-for balance)
Rt. click,choose "Properties">Customize>Change Icon.
Here you can select one of Windows' lovely preinstalled icons,
or "Browse" your computer for your own icons.
You now have a Desktop with only three or four customized icons and
nothing else but your beautiful wallpaper AND all your regularly used
Shortcuts are always avaliable in one click.
To get rid of the remaining folders, right click the taskbar, choose "Toolbars" and check "Desktop." The word "Desktop" will appear over by the clock with double >, which when toggled gives the icons of the desktop. Now right click the desktop and uncheck "Show icons." Clear!
Whoah, thanks guys.
Now if only get my icons to "blend" into my wallpaper instead of being a "box".
I tried the My Computer/Properties/Advanced/Performance/Settings/checkmark Use dropshadows for icon labels on Desktop
That doesn't seem to do it.
Also, When I checkmark Use visual styles on windows and buttons, click apply, the app freezes on me?! So I can't get that checkmarked.
Help?
Nope. Didn't work.
Nw that I've finally found many solutions to my makeiconsdisappear problem, I'm faced with the task of making my icons blend in again.
DAMNITITALL!
When I force-close the app after it freezes up on Apply, it says End Program - rundll32.exe
There is no app running "not responding" in the Windows Task Manager when it freezes up... ?
They work alright.
What I meant to say is that the initial problem I posted is solved.
Now I can't get my Icons to blend in with the wallpaper like they used to.
Instead they have reverted back to the box outline of the icon, thus making my walpaper look awful.
I can't seem to word it better...?
* Make icon backgrounds transparent
* Select any color for icon backgrounds
* Save and Restore Icon positions for each (or every) screen resolution
* Select any color for icon text
* Automatically or manually select the best color for the text background * Dynamically hide icons when you don't need them and show them when you do
* Quickly minimize all windows so that you can see your desktop wallpaper.
* See the help files (which include screen shots) for even more information.
Note: All functions now work with NT, 2000 and XP as well as the whole Win9X family.
I just figured out that Iconoid is the BEST program for all that is related to what I want to have done.
Thanks for all the fast responses guys!
'Till the next time my PC burns me, so long!
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