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Setup Default Desktop Icons

(Article ID: 000906)
Summary

The default icons on the Windows desktop (My Computer, My Documents, Internet Explorer, My Network Places) can be turned on or off either by using the Display Control Panel applet or by changing values in the registry directly.

Step-by-step instructions

To change the settings using the Display Control Panel applet, do the following:

  1. Right click on a vacant area of the desktop and select Properties.
  2. Click the Desktop tab.
  3. Click "Customize Desktop".
  4. Set or clear the checkboxes in the Desktop icons area of the page.
  5. Click OK to close the Desktop Items page.
  6. Click OK to apply the settings and close the Display Properties page.

To change the settings using the registry, do the following:

  1. Open Registry Editor (Start>Run>regedit).
  2. Navigate to the following key:
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    \HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel    .
    NOTE: HKCU is the abbreviation for HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

    • To show/hide the My Computer icon, do the following:
      1. Locate the value {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}.
        NOTE: If this value does not exist, do the following:
        1. Click on Edit.
        2. Click on New.
        3. Select DWORD value.
        4. Type {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} and press ENTER.
          NOTE: Capitalization does count!
      2. Double click {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} value.
      3. Type 1 to hide the icon (type 0 to show the icon) and press ENTER.
      4. Close Registry Editor.
      5. Click on a vacant space out on the desktop and press F5 to refresh the screen.

    • To show/hide the My Documents icon, do the following:
      1. Locate the value {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}.
        NOTE: If this value does not exist, do the following:
        1. Click on Edit.
        2. Click on New.
        3. Select DWORD value.
        4. Type {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103} and press ENTER.
          NOTE: Capitalization does count!

      2. Double click the {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103} value.
      3. Type 1 to hide the icon (type 0 to show the icon) and press ENTER.
      4. Close Registry Editor.
      5. Click on a vacant space out on the desktop and press F5 to refresh the screen.

    • To show/hide the My Network Places icon, do the following:
      1. Locate the value {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}.
        NOTE: If this value does not exist, do the following:
        1. Click on Edit.
        2. Click on New.
        3. Select DWORD value.
        4. Type {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D} and press ENTER.
          NOTE: Capitalization does count!

      2. Double click the {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D} value.
      3. Type 1 to hide the icon (type 0 to show the icon) and press ENTER.
      4. Close Registry Editor.
      5. Click on a vacant space out on the desktop and press F5 to refresh the screen.

    • To show/hide the Internet Explorer icon, do the following:
      1. Locate the value {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}.
        NOTE: If this value does not exist, do the following:
        1. Click on Edit.
        2. Click on New.
        3. Select DWORD value.
        4. Type {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} and press ENTER.
          NOTE: Capitalization does count!

      2. Double click the {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} value.
      3. Type 1 to hide the icon (type 0 to show the icon) and press ENTER.
      4. Close Registry Editor.
      5. Click on a vacant space out on the desktop and press F5 to refresh the screen.


Posted by Rob at 14:14, 13 November, 2006 to the following categories: Microsoft Windows 2000 , Microsoft Windows Registry Tweaks , Microsoft Windows Server 2003 , Microsoft Windows XP .

***DISCLAIMER***
The author of this site makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no responsibility for the use of the materials presented here. Any use of these materials is strictly at the risk of the user.
***DISCLAIMER***
The author of this site makes no warranties, express or implied, and assumes no responsibility for the use of the materials presented here. Any use of these materials is strictly at the risk of the user.