Summary: Many desktops are completely cluttered with icons for various shortcuts. It doesn't affect the computer's performance, but it's still messy.
I have [a lot of applications on my desktop}. Would my desktop load faster if I put all of these apps and utility programs into one desktop folder rather than having all the icons appear on my desktop? Seeing them doesn't bother me and my desktop loads pretty fast, but my kids are horrified by all they see on my desktop. They say that even though these apps are not listed in my Startup Menu or in Start Programs and even though the apps don't appear to be running in Task Manager processes, they are running and using valuable CPU. Can you enlighten me and my kids?
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I'm with your kids, sort of. I'm horrified, but not for the reasons that they're horrified.
And even though I am, if I were you I'd likely not change a thing.
I know that seems like contradictory advice, but it all boils down to being a matter of taste, and nothing more.
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The short version is this: icons that are displayed on your desktop are not running programs and they do not take any additional resources, with one tiny exception. That very tiny exception is that it takes a teeny tiny amount of time to draw the icon itself on the desktop each time the desktop is displayed, particularly when you start up. But that's it.
Other than that, having an icon on your desktop is almost exactly the same as having an item in your start menu somewhere. It does nothing until you actually use it.
So why am I, like your kids, horrified? Well, like I said, it's for a completely different reason.
I'm a neat freak when it comes to my desktop.
In fact, here it is:
In case you're wondering, I put my taskbar on the far left - it makes the most sense for my dual monitor setup which gives me a full desktop that spans the two monitors looking like this:
As you can see, I have exactly two icons on my desktop: "My Computer" (which I renamed to the machine name, so I can keep my machines straight when I'm looking at them), and the Recycle Bin. That's it.
Why am I so anal about this?
It's actually very simple: what's the point in putting shortcuts to things on the desktop which is completely hidden by running programs most of the time? Shortcuts are much more useful in the quick-launch area (which you can see in the image above has quite a bit), and in the start menu itself. If I have to minimize or move a bunch of windows to access the shortcuts on my desktop then it doesn't seem like much of a "short cut".
But that's just me.
Like I said above, it's a matter of taste.
I regularly see machines where the desktop is completely covered with icons, and typically with no organization whatsoever. I shudder not only because of the aesthetics, because I wouldn't know how to go about finding anything in that mess.
But again, that's just me. Clearly the users of those computers are quite comfortable with their setup.
So there's your answer: if you like the way things are set up, don't bother changing it. You're not impacting your computer's performance in any way that matters.
On the other hand, if you're interested in getting more organized, then by all means ... organize away.
Related:
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I accidentally deleted my Recycle Bin in Vista - how do I get it back? It turns out to be fairly easy to accidentally delete the desktop Recycle Bin in Vista. Getting the Recycle Bin back is easy, just not obvious.
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My desktop Recycle Bin has disappeared - why, and how do I get it back? While there are many reasons as to why your Recycle Bin can disappear, there is a fairly easy way to get it back.
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Can I make a desktop icon for a web page shortcut? Adding shortcuts to your desktop for programs, documents or even specific web pages is very easy.
Article C3494 - September 7, 2008
I love a clean desktop.
Posted by: Ziggie at September 10, 2008 8:29 AMI use Quick Launch for frequent apps, and I have a folder in My Documents full of Shortcuts that I've added as a Toolbar (and shrunk, so it's like a mini start menu, but bigger).
Then a Slush Folder/toolbar.
And finally, one for Desktop so I can still use the drag and drop to the desktop conveniently. I just hide my desktop icons so it stays pretty.
--zigg
I too am a tidiness freak. To keep icons off the Desktop I created 2 folders into which I put Shortcuts to often used programmes, other folders, websites, etc. I then dragged and dropped one on the extreme left side of my screen and the other on the right. You can also put one at the top of the screen, but this can get in the way. When dropped at the extreme margin of the screen these folders become toolbars which can be set to always be on top and/or auto hide until you touch the edge of the screen with your mouse. These toolbars can be dragged to just a thin bar (mine are 6mm - 1/4 inch) wide. The icons can be large or small. So my often used stuff is always handy without getting in the way. I don't have to go hunting for stuff in the Start Menu, Explorer, or Firefox when my Desktop is filled with programme windows.
Posted by: Mike B at September 11, 2008 4:02 AMI'm almost the exact polar opposite of Leo: I hate cluttering the Task Bar, but don't at all mind putting things on my DeskTop. I have my DeskTop icons "divided" into five loose areas.
Top left of screen: "Selected Utilities" area (which actually includes shortcuts to various drives and my ISP, as well as actual utilities such as Defrag).
Top right of screen: "Security" area (shortcuts to run, update and "FullScan with" my Norton AntiVirus, a shortcut to AdAware 2008, a shortcut to a folder of shortcuts for updating various aspects of my computer (Microsoft Update, Firefox, printer software, etc.), plus an actual encrypted textfile containing my bank account information, so that if I need to update an online store account I have that information handy.
A blank row, then Upper middle of screen: Shortcuts to infrequently accessed but important folders -- folders which I don't much need to access but for which, when the need arises, immediate and ready access comes in very handy. This includes of folder of camera photos and another of scanned documents, etc.
Skip a row, then lower middle of screen: Shortcuts to commonly used folders. This includes (1) A "Utilities" folder contains ALL my links to ALL my utilities (provided I remember to put an link there when I first install the utility, which admittedly I don't always remember to do! -- but in principle, it is at least SUPPOSED to contain links to "all" utilities, all gathered in one place); (2) "Internet & Online" shortcut to a folder containing shortcuts to all programs which require or use Internet access; (3) shortcut to a "File Editing" folder with shortcuts to various programs for creating and editing files, including Nero Sound Editor, MS Paint, WordPad, and so forth and so on; (4) a shortcut to my "Music" folder; (5) a shortcut to my "Downloads" folder; and (6) a link to the "Glenn's Files" folder which contains all my textfiles and other important files.
Below this there is (supposed to be) only empty space, but there is usually one or two programs or files there temporarily, waiting for me to attend to them, and which are usually deleted (or moved) elsewhere afterwards. For example, I might have a text file of URL's I want to take a gander at. (The URL to THIS page happened to be in exactly one such file, cut & pasted there from a "Ask Leo!" newsletter I'd recently read!).
Of course, my icons are small, so all this "clutter" actually takes up no more than half the screen. Gives a Pleasingly Live-In Look to my DeskTop. And I'm quite sure that Leop would absolutely hate it. :)
Posted by: Glenn P. at September 13, 2008 9:56 PMLike my icons (tastefully arranged by type). The main reason I have them is ease of access, either thru minimizing open apps and then clicking on desired icon or (even better) using hot keys to open a new item without leaving the app I'm already working on. Particularly love the option to quickly open the MRU Word doc.
Posted by: Judy T. at September 15, 2008 5:48 PMI created colorful desktop graphics that allow me to have up to twenty icons at a time, and still be very organized. Since I love to "play" with graphics," I've created several hundred (some are simply different colors), as well as matching screen saver graphics for use with 3D Maze. I created desktops for the four seasons, holidays, days of the week, etc., so I can change the theme and/or color according to my mood.
Hey, Leo, do I get the prize for most anal-retentive desktop organizer? :o)
Posted by: Bette at September 16, 2008 8:20 AMI am just wondering if I get into quick launch then i would get space possively half centimeters it depends. And it would greatly affect my whole desktop for the rest of applications. for me it would be better if I could just put it in my desktop. Its just for me anyway. thanks.
Posted by: remsah at September 18, 2008 8:49 PMHi Leo....re: the Desktop Icons...The questions & answers that you provide are "outstanding". I'm "impressed by your" Newletter(s)!! Therefore I continue to provide you with Latte's, etc....KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!! A Long Time Sr.Citizen Supporter!! Aloha, from Hawaii PS: Come see us again...soon!!
Posted by: Sebastian San Filippo at September 26, 2008 3:56 PMHi there, i have sorted out my laptop and deleted alot of programs i did not know what they were!! i know silly me, now i cant use web pages as a shortcut tomy desk top?
any suggestions..
Posted by: Kate at October 21, 2008 12:29 PMa empty folder which name is "my music" which i was not saved in my desktop, but its automatically comes in my desktop.rather i also delete it but its comes again.i know its happened due to virus, so what i will do plz tell me.
Posted by: sandipan sarkar at October 24, 2008 6:13 AMHello
Thanks for making a post/webpage about this question.
I knew the Icons on the desktop where NOT causing the programs to run in the background... what I was looking to find out was how to make the Icons load faster.
I believe I found my answer with in your Neat Freak comment and the comments of others.
I have done everything to make my computer load faster and run faster, I am a gamer.
Such as: turning off everything possible in MsConfig Startup, running CCleaner, defragging, running SpyBot, Malwarebytes, Ad-Aware and two other Free Cleaners, and a little Free program called Startuplight. But the Desktop Icons still loaded somewhat slow.
I now believe I now have my answer as to why they load so slow.
I have 46 Icons on my desktop -- LOL yes 46! That's about two-thirds of my desktop.
LOL
I may not be a Neat Freak as you define one, but believe me I am a Neat Freak, all 46 Desktop Icons are setup in perfect order and category. They are all used weekly. I got a big kick out of how you have only two Icons on your desktop and I have so many. To each his own, thanks again!!
MarkM
Posted by: MarkM at May 9, 2009 2:43 AM