Desktop shortcut placement strategies
February 23, 2006 12:55 PM   Subscribe

Does anyone else put shortcuts in particular spots on their desktop, to make it a brainless activity to run them? (Problem: When my resolution is changed, and icons get mixed up.)

I never leave junk on my WinXP desktop. But I do like to have particular often-used shortcuts on there, particularly in one corner of the desktop or the other, in precise locations, for zero-thinking reach when I need them.

The problem is that any program that re-adjusts resolution has the tendency to garble up my carefully placed shortcuts, usually moving them all together to the left.

Does anyone else place shortcuts in strategic spots on the desktop? Is there some easy solution I am not thinking of here? (I do use the Quicklaunch bar, but enabling text labels for folders, which I would need, takes too much space.)
posted by parma to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)
 
StyleXP allows you to save and restore icon placements
posted by BSummers at 1:08 PM on February 23, 2006


no scratch that i am thinking of UltraMon
posted by BSummers at 1:08 PM on February 23, 2006


I do the same thing and have the same problem. I never thought of looking for a solution. I don't see anything in UltraMon that fits the bill, but I did just google up Desktop Resetter. I just tried it out, and it seems to do the job. Thanks for asking the question!
posted by team lowkey at 1:34 PM on February 23, 2006


I've always used PC Magazine's WinTidy, although recently I've become less in love with it. I'm going to give the others here a try!
posted by SlyBevel at 1:44 PM on February 23, 2006


Although this doesn't involve desktop items, the way that I access frequently-used programs is to:
1. Create a shortcut for it with an easy-to-type name
2. Make sure this shortcut is in my Windows path
3. Hit Win-R, then type in the command

For example, I made a shortcut for firefox.exe, and named the shortcut "fx" (the full name would be "fx.lnk" because it is a shortcut file).

Then I put this shortcut into a folder called "C:\path\", which is in my windows PATH. (To set your path, go to Properties on My Computer, Advanced tab, Environment Variables button. Then scroll through the System variable list and Edit the entry for PATH.

Now, to launch firefox, I type Win-R "fx" ENTER. Really fast - no aiming with the mouse. The Win-R brings up the Run dialog, and since "fx" is now in your path, it will launch Firefox.

I prefer this method because it is pretty easy to set up, and you don't have to install any additional software to Windows. Hope that helps!
posted by ding3r at 1:54 PM on February 23, 2006


Oh snap, I change my mind. Desktop Resetter wants $10, and runs in the system tray.

Restore Desktop from softwarium is free, and you save/restore by right-clicking the desktop. And it looks like it automatically restores when the screen resolution changes. That's what I was looking for.
posted by team lowkey at 2:49 PM on February 23, 2006


It's better for your brain to have them moved around, though--creates new neural pathways or something.

It's like taking a new route home from work.

Just something to consider.
posted by exceptinsects at 4:39 PM on February 23, 2006


Restore Desktop (which team lowkey linked to) looks best IMO, but for the sake of thoroughness there's also Icon Restore.
posted by ori at 5:00 PM on February 23, 2006


When that happens to me, I re-start my pc.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:50 AM on February 24, 2006


The Quicklaunch bar is key for me. You can give a frequently-used folder its own icon instead of a text label. Right-click , Properties, Customize, Change Icon. See www.iconarchive.com, etc. I link to executables and a couple of directories in my Quicklaunch bar. Shortcuts to folders are on the Desktop. Shortcut names need not be the same as the item they reference. That way, you can have names like 1 Writing, 2 Accounts, etc.
posted by gregoreo at 6:31 AM on February 24, 2006


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