How to remove arrow from shortcuts icons on desktop?

[ultimatehelp.spaces.live.com]

Hi, I want to remove arrow from icons. Do you have any tips for Windows XP?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi, I want to remove arrow from icons. Do you have any tips for Windows XP?

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.

 

[Guest]

Download & Install this: TweakUI.exe then find in Programs > Powertoys for Windows XP >
Open it and go to Explorer > Shortcut > tick None > Apply > OK.

HTH,
-Rino

 

[Mrosen7542]

Hi. Even though Ken's recommendation may hold true, if you are just wanting to remove the shortcut arrows on your known shortcuts (primarily your Desktop) for appearance purposes I don't think you should run into any problems. I've always done that and not once had any problems. To each there own I suppose. The free version of X-Setup Pro and Registry Tweaker programs will also provide a means of removing the Shortcut Arrow. Or you can go right into Regedit (if you know what you're doing) and delete the value "ISShortcut" from the key [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]. Make a System Restore Point and/or backup the registry first! If you can't find or don't see the registry key I mentioned (if you decide to go that route) then just use one of the programs mentioned on this thread.

 

[... et al.]

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.

or Alternatively delete "NeverShowExt" for the "IsShortcut"
filetypes. (Backup the reg-keys before trying it out.)

I want to be able to tell what is what, so i delete
"NeverShowExt" *and* leave the original "IsShortcut" arrows.