The other day, I was bored. So I looked at my Windows desktop. I saw icons plastered there by some install program. And I thought, “Why don’t I remove them?”
\n
\nYeah, why not?<\/p>\n
Well, the answer is that these icons were installed by some program. At the time, I thought, “You know, I might use all those, so I’ll let them hang around a while.” That was probably 4 years ago.<\/p>\n
Most installation programs give you a choice. They ask whether or not you want a shortcut icon on the desktop or on the Start menu? Typically I say “Desktop no, Start menu yes.”<\/p>\n
I reserve the desktop for programs I use frequently, but not frequently enough for them to be on the Quick Access toolbar. I also place folders to my current projects on the desktop, but when I’m done with a project, I remove the folder. Not so with programs, apparently!<\/p>\n
It’s easy to remove the shortcut: Drag it to the Recycle Bin. Poof! It’s gone. The program remains installed, and can probably be found on the Start menu. So in the end you have a cleaner desktop — if that’s what you want.<\/p>\n
Seriously, I’ve seen people who have desktops that look infected with the pox. Seriously? That many icons and shortcuts? Do you use them all? Probably not. I enjoy seeing my desktop background. It reminds me that I’m either not working or done with work. (That’s because normally the desktop is covered with program windows.)<\/p>\n