It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
coming unstuck.

I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.

So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro Express)
which would regularly check it and turn it off if necessary. My first
attempt works OK but it relies on minimising all current windows and
restoring them. In practice that's not only distracting (every 10 mins
at present) but it doesn't always seem to return focus to the window I
happen to be in at the time. So - and here's my question! - I'm
wondering if there is a registry setting for this icon display option?
If so I'll try an alternative macro that changes it, a much neater
solution.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
> changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
> Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
> coming unstuck.
>
> I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
> desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
> reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
> again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.
>
> So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro
> Express) which would regularly check it and turn it off if
> necessary. My first attempt works OK but it relies on minimising
> all current windows and restoring them. In practice that's not only
> distracting (every 10 mins at present) but it doesn't always seem
> to return focus to the window I happen to be in at the time. So -
> and here's my question! - I'm wondering if there is a registry
> setting for this icon display option? If so I'll try an alternative
> macro that changes it, a much neater solution.

Thought about just not having any desktop icons?

You obviously do not use them. Just don't put anything on your desktop.

You can easily get rid of "My Documents" and "My Computer" and "My Network
Places" through the Display Properties --> Desktop --> Customize Desktop
method (unchecking those three boxes.)

Remove the Recycle Bin from your desktop through this registry deletion:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
or
TweakUI can remove *all* of those "System" based icons. (
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/D...powertoys.mspx )

Any other icons you have on your desktop - you put there. Why - only you
know - if you planned on hiding them in the first place. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

The deletion of the Recycle Bin from the desktop is rather a one-way
fix!

You should be aware of how to 're-instate' the Recycle Bin on your
desktop before you 'delete it'.

You have been given the location of the registry key to delete in order
to remove the Recycle Bin desktop icon : export this key to a reg file
and name it 'Restore Recycle Bin.reg' BEFORE you continue in deleting
this key.

You should always exercise care when editing the registry, always create
a backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.


Also, about the question you asked :
You should bear in mind, though there will be a registry setting for
what you asked, when you change a setting with the Windows' interface,
it will "refresh" as is changes it. Whereas, if you were to edit the
registry directly, no "refresh" would take place so you would not see
the change. You would have to logoff /logon to force the change to
become apparent, and that would probably 'fix' your problem in the first
place.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Shenan Stanley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
>> changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
>> Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
>> coming unstuck.
>>
>> I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
>> desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
>> reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
>> again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.
>>
>> So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro
>> Express) which would regularly check it and turn it off if
>> necessary. My first attempt works OK but it relies on minimising
>> all current windows and restoring them. In practice that's not only
>> distracting (every 10 mins at present) but it doesn't always seem
>> to return focus to the window I happen to be in at the time. So -
>> and here's my question! - I'm wondering if there is a registry
>> setting for this icon display option? If so I'll try an alternative
>> macro that changes it, a much neater solution.
>
> Thought about just not having any desktop icons?
>
> You obviously do not use them. Just don't put anything on your
> desktop.
>
> You can easily get rid of "My Documents" and "My Computer" and "My
> Network Places" through the Display Properties --> Desktop -->
> Customize Desktop method (unchecking those three boxes.)
>
> Remove the Recycle Bin from your desktop through this registry
> deletion:
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
> or
> TweakUI can remove *all* of those "System" based icons. (
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/D...powertoys.mspx )
>
> Any other icons you have on your desktop - you put there. Why - only
> you know - if you planned on hiding them in the first place. ;-)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
> changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
> Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
> coming unstuck.
>
> I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
> desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
> reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
> again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.
>
> So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro Express)
> which would regularly check it and turn it off if necessary. My first
> attempt works OK but it relies on minimising all current windows and
> restoring them. In practice that's not only distracting (every 10 mins
> at present) but it doesn't always seem to return focus to the window I
> happen to be in at the time. So - and here's my question! - I'm
> wondering if there is a registry setting for this icon display option?
> If so I'll try an alternative macro that changes it, a much neater
> solution.

Option #2
Create a folder and call it something like "Icons" and move them their. This
won't work with system icons but at least it will reduce the clutter and you
still have access to them.

--
Mike Pawlak

Tim Meddick wrote:
> The deletion of the Recycle Bin from the desktop is rather a one-way
> fix!
>
> You should be aware of how to 're-instate' the Recycle Bin on your
> desktop before you 'delete it'.
>
> You have been given the location of the registry key to delete in
> order to remove the Recycle Bin desktop icon : export this key to a
> reg file and name it 'Restore Recycle Bin.reg' BEFORE you continue
> in deleting this key.
>
> You should always exercise care when editing the registry, always
> create a backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.
>
>
> Also, about the question you asked :
> You should bear in mind, though there will be a registry setting for
> what you asked, when you change a setting with the Windows'
> interface, it will "refresh" as is changes it. Whereas, if you
> were to edit the registry directly, no "refresh" would take place
> so you would not see the change. You would have to logoff /logon
> to force the change to become apparent, and that would probably
> 'fix' your problem in the first place.

Notice - I gave TweakUI as an option. TweakUI can turn off/on the display
of the Recycle Bin 'at will'.
One way? Not really. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Very sorry - all I noticed was the instructions to delete the registry
key :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}



==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)




"Shenan Stanley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Tim Meddick wrote:
>> The deletion of the Recycle Bin from the desktop is rather a one-way
>> fix!
>>
>> You should be aware of how to 're-instate' the Recycle Bin on your
>> desktop before you 'delete it'.
>>
>> You have been given the location of the registry key to delete in
>> order to remove the Recycle Bin desktop icon : export this key to a
>> reg file and name it 'Restore Recycle Bin.reg' BEFORE you continue
>> in deleting this key.
>>
>> You should always exercise care when editing the registry, always
>> create a backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.
>>
>>
>> Also, about the question you asked :
>> You should bear in mind, though there will be a registry setting for
>> what you asked, when you change a setting with the Windows'
>> interface, it will "refresh" as is changes it. Whereas, if you
>> were to edit the registry directly, no "refresh" would take place
>> so you would not see the change. You would have to logoff /logon
>> to force the change to become apparent, and that would probably
>> 'fix' your problem in the first place.
>
> Notice - I gave TweakUI as an option. TweakUI can turn off/on the
> display of the Recycle Bin 'at will'.
> One way? Not really. ;-)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>

"Tim Meddick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Very sorry - all I noticed was the instructions to delete the registry
>key :
>
>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
>
>
>
>==
>
>Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
>
>
>
>
>"Shenan Stanley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Tim Meddick wrote:
>>> The deletion of the Recycle Bin from the desktop is rather a one-way
>>> fix!
>>>
>>> You should be aware of how to 're-instate' the Recycle Bin on your
>>> desktop before you 'delete it'.
>>>
>>> You have been given the location of the registry key to delete in
>>> order to remove the Recycle Bin desktop icon : export this key to a
>>> reg file and name it 'Restore Recycle Bin.reg' BEFORE you continue
>>> in deleting this key.
>>>
>>> You should always exercise care when editing the registry, always
>>> create a backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.
>>>
>>>
>>> Also, about the question you asked :
>>> You should bear in mind, though there will be a registry setting for
>>> what you asked, when you change a setting with the Windows'
>>> interface, it will "refresh" as is changes it. Whereas, if you
>>> were to edit the registry directly, no "refresh" would take place
>>> so you would not see the change. You would have to logoff /logon
>>> to force the change to become apparent, and that would probably
>>> 'fix' your problem in the first place.
>>
>> Notice - I gave TweakUI as an option. TweakUI can turn off/on the
>> display of the Recycle Bin 'at will'.
>> One way? Not really. ;-)
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>>
>

Thanks both, but I don't want to go down that route. I might *hide* my
desktop icons for long periods, but that's not quite the same a
*never* using them!

Do either of you know the registry setting i asked about please?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

"MAP" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
>> changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
>> Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
>> coming unstuck.
>>
>> I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
>> desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
>> reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
>> again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.
>>
>> So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro Express)
>> which would regularly check it and turn it off if necessary. My first
>> attempt works OK but it relies on minimising all current windows and
>> restoring them. In practice that's not only distracting (every 10 mins
>> at present) but it doesn't always seem to return focus to the window I
>> happen to be in at the time. So - and here's my question! - I'm
>> wondering if there is a registry setting for this icon display option?
>> If so I'll try an alternative macro that changes it, a much neater
>> solution.
>
>Option #2
>Create a folder and call it something like "Icons" and move them their. This
>won't work with system icons but at least it will reduce the clutter and you
>still have access to them.

Thanks Mike, interesting idea, but it's got to be all or nothing for
me I'm afraid ;-)

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
>> changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
>> Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
>> coming unstuck.
>>
>> I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
>> desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
>> reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
>> again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.
>>
>> So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro
>> Express) which would regularly check it and turn it off if
>> necessary. My first attempt works OK but it relies on minimising
>> all current windows and restoring them. In practice that's not only
>> distracting (every 10 mins at present) but it doesn't always seem
>> to return focus to the window I happen to be in at the time. So -
>> and here's my question! - I'm wondering if there is a registry
>> setting for this icon display option? If so I'll try an alternative
>> macro that changes it, a much neater solution.
>
> Thought about just not having any desktop icons?
>
> You obviously do not use them. Just don't put anything on your
> desktop.
> You can easily get rid of "My Documents" and "My Computer" and "My
> Network Places" through the Display Properties --> Desktop -->
> Customize Desktop method (unchecking those three boxes.)
>
> Remove the Recycle Bin from your desktop through this registry
> deletion:
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
> or TweakUI can remove *all* of those "System" based icons. (
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/D...powertoys.mspx
> )
> Any other icons you have on your desktop - you put there. Why - only
> you know - if you planned on hiding them in the first place. ;-)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

To get rid of icons on the desktop: Right click open area on screen,
click Arrange Icons By, untick Show Desktop Icons to turn them off.
Turns them on too if you change your mind later. No Restart needed;
removes them as soon as you're done with the window.

Why edit the registry when what's needed is right there in front of a
person?

Oops; belay that; didn't read close enough.

Twayne


Twayne wrote:
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>> It's probably an unwanted side effect of my automatic wallpaper
>>> changer (WSS Pro), but the setting in Desktop Properties 'Arrange
>>> Icons by' > 'Show Desktop Items' (by right clicking desktop) keeps
>>> coming unstuck.
>>>
>>> I normally uncheck 'Show Desktop Items', so no icons spoil my
>>> desktop images. Minutes or hours later I'll notice that they have
>>> reappeared, although the setting is still unchecked. To remove them
>>> again I have to check the setting then uncheck it.
>>>
>>> So I thought I'd try to write an external macro (using Macro
>>> Express) which would regularly check it and turn it off if
>>> necessary. My first attempt works OK but it relies on minimising
>>> all current windows and restoring them. In practice that's not only
>>> distracting (every 10 mins at present) but it doesn't always seem
>>> to return focus to the window I happen to be in at the time. So -
>>> and here's my question! - I'm wondering if there is a registry
>>> setting for this icon display option? If so I'll try an alternative
>>> macro that changes it, a much neater solution.
>>
>> Thought about just not having any desktop icons?
>>
>> You obviously do not use them. Just don't put anything on your
>> desktop.
>> You can easily get rid of "My Documents" and "My Computer" and "My
>> Network Places" through the Display Properties --> Desktop -->
>> Customize Desktop method (unchecking those three boxes.)
>>
>> Remove the Recycle Bin from your desktop through this registry
>> deletion:
>>
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
>> or TweakUI can remove *all* of those "System" based icons. (
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/D...powertoys.mspx
>> )
>> Any other icons you have on your desktop - you put there. Why - only
>> you know - if you planned on hiding them in the first place. ;-)
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>
> To get rid of icons on the desktop: Right click open area on screen,
> click Arrange Icons By, untick Show Desktop Icons to turn them off.
> Turns them on too if you change your mind later. No Restart needed;
> removes them as soon as you're done with the window.
>
> Why edit the registry when what's needed is right there in front of a
> person?