How to Use the Quick Launch Bar to Clean Up Your Desktop

Many of us Windows users have messy computer desktops, littered with lots of icons that we almost never use. These are all also available through the Start Menu, but that's not as easy as just double clicking an icon. But it's easy to launch your most used programs with just one click. Here's how to clear your desktop so you can see that pretty wallpaper you were so pleased to find!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Right click on your taskbar. Left click on Toolbars. Click on Quick Launch, so that there is a check mark next to it. This will open up another taskbar above the regular one.

2. Look at your desktop icons and decide what programs you use all the time. It could be a mail program, or word processing, or even a selection of games. You can include icons like your trash bin.

3. Now, one by one, click on those icons, drag them down and drop each one on the new taskbar.

4. Once you have all your most used programs on your Quick Launch taskbar, right click on your desktop. Then click on "Arrange Icons By." Now, click on "Show Desktop Icons" to remove the checkmark.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to access a program that isn't on your Quick Launch Toolbar, and you can't find it on your Start Menu, just reverse Step 4 to see your icons again. Once you're done, you can make them go away again.

Resources

• Windows Desktop Tips

[keymanbob]

on 9/18/2008 I use Clutterkiller www.datagoround.com/clutterkiller/ to clean my desktop off. It organizes my files and lets be control my shortcuts. It will even put the shortcuts you want into the Quick Launch Bar.