Want to Get Rid of Shortcut Arrows

[Pat]

I detest those shortcut arrows that get put on all the desktop icons. I used
Tweak UI in XP to get rid of them but can't find anything that works in
Vista. I tried Frameworkx that did absolutely nothing. Are there any easy
solutions?

Pat

 

[Kayman]

I detest those shortcut arrows that get put on all the desktop icons. I used
Tweak UI in XP to get rid of them but can't find anything that works in
Vista. I tried Frameworkx that did absolutely nothing. Are there any easy
solutions?

Google for: vista shortcut arrows

 

[Spikey]

There is an earlier reply on this topic on 17/01/09 at 04:51 by a poster
called cqui3 (you can search for it).

This suggested that the version of tweakui for windows 2000 was workable in
Vista. Please note I haven't tried it out and there may be underlying
problems even if it appears to install and work.

 

[Bob D.]

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-shortcut-icon-arrow-overlay-in-windows-vista/

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I detest those shortcut arrows that get put on all the desktop icons. I used
Tweak UI in XP to get rid of them but can't find anything that works in
Vista. I tried Frameworkx that did absolutely nothing. Are there any easy
solutions?

You can get rid of the arrows with a registry edit.

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 leave
the arrows as they are.

 

[Cheri]

You can get rid of the arrows with a registry edit.

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 leave
the arrows as they are.

That makes a great deal of sense to me.

Cheri

 

[Ian D]

There is an earlier reply on this topic on 17/01/09 at 04:51 by a poster
called cqui3 (you can search for it).

This suggested that the version of tweakui for windows 2000 was workable
in Vista. Please note I haven't tried it out and there may be underlying
problems even if it appears to install and work.

Tweakui version 1.33 for Win2k will work with 32 bit Vista. It won't
remove the shortcut arrows completely, (gives weird results), but
using small arrows will place tiny unobtrusive arrows on the icons.
This is useful because you will still know what's a real shortcut
without noticeable arrows. Tweakui will also prevent "Shortcut to"
on the icon labels. Other Tweakui functions also work on 32 bit
Vista. It does not work with 64 bit Vista.

 

[Tyro]

What is your objection to the reminder that the icon is not the object but
just a pointer to the object? If you delete the shortcut, the object
remains. If you delete the object, it is gone. On my desktop all icons are
shortcuts, save one. I can immediately tell the difference.

Tyro

 

[LVTravel]

I detest those shortcut arrows that get put on all the desktop icons. I
used Tweak UI in XP to get rid of them but can't find anything that works
in Vista. I tried Frameworkx that did absolutely nothing. Are there any
easy solutions?

Pat

If you are familiar with Tweak UI for XP there is a freeware version called
TweakVI offered at www.totalidea.com. Have used with success to tweak many
of Vista's settings.

 

[George Valenti]

go to
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64901-order,1-page,1/description.html

download the tool

go to start/all programs/frameworks/vista shortcut overlay remover/fxvisor
double click

select which option you want press apply

if you get an error message press continue

restart the arrows should be gone

I just did it and it works fine

I detest those shortcut arrows that get put on all the desktop icons. I
used Tweak UI in XP to get rid of them but can't find anything that works
in Vista. I tried Frameworkx that did absolutely nothing. Are there any
easy solutions?
Pat

If you are familiar with Tweak UI for XP there is a freeware version called
TweakVI offered at www.totalidea.com. Have used with success to tweak many
of Vista's settings.

 

[+Bob+]

What is your objection to the reminder that the icon is not the object but
just a pointer to the object? If you delete the shortcut, the object
remains. If you delete the object, it is gone. On my desktop all icons are
shortcuts, save one. I can immediately tell the difference.

Tyro

If there's only one, I would think you'd be able to remember the
difference without a special indicator.

Personally, I find the arrows annoying too. The previously posted link
get you to a good program to dispose of them.

 

[Tyro]

I've seen some desktops with over 30 icons and about half were shortcuts and
half weren't. I was only giving an example.

Tyro

 

[cboz]

I think the objection is to being able to modify or remove it if you
desire... Microsoft makes it way too hard when it should be a personal
option. Just my opinion.