Desktop shortcuts: removing arrow

[Hall]

Whenever I make a shortcut to a file in the Desktop, the icon includes a
curved arrow.

Can this arrow be removed?

 

[Bob I]

TweakUI will do that. Look for it on the microsoft website.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Whenever I make a shortcut to a file in the Desktop, the icon
includes a curved arrow.

Can this arrow be removed?

You can get rid of the arrows with a registry edit, or more easily and more
safely by using the free TweakUI, downloadable as part of Microsoft
PowerToys at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp
(if you have SP1 or SP2 installed) or
http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Install/2/WXP/EN-US/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe
(if you don't have SP1 or SP2).

However, my recommendation is that you do *not* do this. The arrows serve an
important function--providing quick visual identification of a shortcut. If
you remove the arrows, you run the substantial risk that sooner or later you
will delete something you wanted to keep, thinking that you were just
deleting a shortcut to it. I would either leave the arrows as they are, or
alternatively use the TweakUI option of light arrows, which are somewhat
less visible that the regular ones.

 

[Rock]

"Hall"wrote

Whenever I make a shortcut to a file in the Desktop, the icon includes a
curved arrow.

Can this arrow be removed?

I second Ken's recommendation. Keep the arrow, it's a useful visual
indicator, the light arrow from Tweakui is fine.