How to Create and Organize Desktop Icons in Windows XP

Desktop icons are a great way to provide quick access to various programs, folders, and documents that you use on a daily basis. However, if you have a large number of icons on your desktop, it may seem very cluttered. The article below provides tips and tricks for organizing your desktop.


CREATING A PROGRAM SHORTCUT
To create a shortcut on your desktop to a program, browse to the program via the "Start" menu. Once you have located the program, right-click on it. On the expanded menu, go to "Send To" and left-click on "Desktop (create shortcut)". When you look at your desktop, you should find an icon to the program.

CREATING A FOLDER OR DOCUMENT SHORTCUT
To create a shortcut on your desktop to a folder or document, right-click on the "Start" button and left-click on "Explore". The Windows Explorer screen will display. Browse to the folder or document.

When you have located the file or folder, right-click on it. On the expanded menu, go to "Send To" and left-click on "Desktop (create shortcut)". When you look at your desktop, you should find an icon to the folder/document.

ORGANIZING YOUR DESKTOP
Right-click anywhere on your desktop and go to "Arrange Icons By". In the expanded menu, make sure that there is a check mark next to "Align to Grid" and that there is no check mark next to "Auto Arrange".

NOTE: If all of your icons suddenly disappear, make sure that you did not accidentally click on "Show Desktop Icons". This option requires that there is a check mark next to it in order for your shortcuts to display on the screen.
Step4
Click and drag your icons to where ever you want them on your desktop. You can create groups of icons, depending on how you would like to set them up. This part is totally up to you ... the idea is to organize the desktop however is best for your needs. The attached screenshot is an example of how you can organize them.

How to Clean Your Hard Drive

Running low on hard drive disk space? Chances are, there are plenty of unnecessary files on your computer that you don't need and/or can be wiped clean from your hard drive. Keep reading for steps on freeing up that precious memory!


First, run Disk Cleanup on your PC. Do this by opening your system tools folder (select Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools). To free up the maximum amount of space, check all of the boxes in Disk Cleanup.

Next, uninstall any unused Windows Components on your PC (select Start > Control Panel. Open Add or Remove Programs . Click the Add/Remove Windows Components button. Select the components you want to remove and click OK). Uninstalling Microsoft games alone will free up over 12MB of memory. Do you use "fax services"? If not, check it off and get rid of it. If you use Internet Explorer, but not MSN Explorer, get rid of it. This will free up almost 14MB of memory. Check off any unused components and watch the memory get replenished to your hard drive.

Finally, get rid of old programs you do not use on your PC. Open your control panel(select Start > Control Panel), Open Add or Remove Programs. Check the dates of when the last time each program was used. Chances are, if it has been over a year since you've used the program, you can trash it. Check all of the programs you wish to remove.

How to Clean Your CD-Rom Drive

Is your CD-Rom driving going slow or skipping? It may just need a good cleaning in order to have it back to normal. Follow these easy directions and you'll be on your way to having a perfect drive again!

Check and make sure all your disks are scratch free. This may have something to do with your drive not working correctly. Make sure you also load your disk properly.

Always use laser lens cleaner to clean your cd-rom drive. Don't try just using soap and water, this will ruin your drive completely.

Run laser cleaner Place the lens cleaner in the cd-rom drive and let it work for about 2 or 3 minutes before taking it out.

Using the laser cleaner will rid the drive of dust however; if your drive is still giving you problems try taking a cotton swab and rubbing it across the lens.

Change Your Default Program to Open Files

Many times when we install programs, the install process will scan your computer for file types and then ask you if you would like these files to be open with the program being installed. Once the program is installed certain file types will be open with that program. For instance, if you install iTunes, the install will ask you if you want to open these music file types with iTunes. The file extensions can be mp3, wma, wav, etc. This short tutorial will show you how to change the file association with a particular program. In other words when you double click on a picture file you can designate which program opens the file.

Select: Start, Control Panel, Tools, Folder Options.

In the folder option box select, File Types tab.

Let’s use picture files as an example. Scroll down and locate jpeg which is one of the most common picture files used. All the file extensions are in alphabetical order so it makes it easy to quickly locate a file extension.

Below the file extension window you will see “Opens with:” to change the program to open picture files, select the “Change” button. Select the new program that you want to use to open your jpeg picture files with.

If your program is not found in the “Open with:” box then select, “Browse” button and then locate your program within the Program directory.

Apply the exact same procedure for any other file types you wish to change your program association with. You can apply this method to movie files, sound files, pdf files, html files, etc. You can Google “File Types” to get a complete list of Microsoft file types and what they are used for.