Hi, I'm trying to remove the My Computer icon using the "half-assed" solution of 
changing it to a blank icon and then entering a single space for the name.  I am 
using the recommended registry edit procedure on the following page:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-016

I end up with the Windows default icon as the My Computer icon, and "blank.ico,0", 
my registry entry, as the name for the icon.  I have a blank icon on my hard drive 
named blank.ico.  What am I doing wrong?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

There is no easy way to remove the My Computer icon from the desktop. It is possible, however, to restrict it so that no action is performed when someone attempts to double-click this icon. Here is the procedure: Run Registry Editor (RegEdit.exe). Please be very careful when using this tool, because if you do something wrong with it, you may end up reinstalling Windows from scratch! Find the following key in the Registry: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT CLSID {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} shell Create a new subkey under this key and rename it to open. (To create the subkey: right-click on shell, select New - Key from the shortcut menu, and then enter open as the name of the new key.) Now create another subkey, command, under the key open. The resulting structure of these keys should look like the following: shell open command Now select the command subkey you've just created and open the Default value of this key (by double-clicking (Default) in the right pane of the Registry Editor window) and specify the following command as its Value data: Explorer.exe /root Now, whenever the user attempts to open the My Computer item on the Desktop, it will not open. Not sure why you want it gone but if it was me I would grab a program like 'folder gaurd' to allow only you access to it.


On Monday, October 29, 2001 at 5:17 pm, Mike Greening wrote:

>Hi, I'm trying to remove the My Computer icon using the "half-assed" solution of 
>changing it to a blank icon and then entering a single space for the name.  I am 
>using the recommended registry edit procedure on the following page:
>
>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-016
>
>I end up with the Windows default icon as the My Computer icon, and "blank.ico,0", 
>my registry entry, as the name for the icon.  I have a blank icon on my hard drive 
>named blank.ico.  What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks Dale for your prompt response, but I guess my goals were unclear. I only wish to hide the My Computer icon from view (as opposed to removing it) by making it into a blank icon, then changing the name of the icon to a single space. I have used the method for hiding all icons on the desktop, but this restricts my ability to have a background image. My goal is to have a "naked" desktop, free of visible icons, with a backgroud wallpaper image. Is this possible?


On Monday, October 29, 2001 at 5:51 pm, Dale wrote:
>There is no easy way to remove the My Computer icon from the desktop. It is possible,
>however, to restrict it so that no action is performed when someone attempts to double-click
>this icon. Here is the procedure:
>
>Run Registry Editor (RegEdit.exe). Please be very careful when using this tool, because
>if you do something wrong with it, you may end up reinstalling Windows from scratch!
>
>Find the following key in the Registry:
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
> CLSID
> {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
> shell
>
>Create a new subkey under this key and rename it to open. (To create the subkey:
>right-click on shell, select New - Key from the shortcut menu, and then enter open
>as the name of the new key.) Now create another subkey, command, under the key open.
>The resulting structure of these keys should look like the following:
>
> shell
> open
> command
>
>
>Now select the command subkey you've just created and open the Default value of this
>key (by double-clicking (Default) in the right pane of the Registry Editor window)
>and specify the following command as its Value data:
>Explorer.exe /root
>
>Now, whenever the user attempts to open the My Computer item on the Desktop, it will
>not open.
>
>Not sure why you want it gone but if it was me I would grab a program like 'folder
>gaurd' to allow only you access to it.
>
>


>On Monday, October 29, 2001 at 5:17 pm, Mike Greening wrote:
>

>Hi, I'm trying to remove the My Computer icon using the "half-assed" solution of 
>changing it to a blank icon and then entering a single space for the name.  I am 
>using the recommended registry edit procedure on the following page:
>
>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-016
>
>I end up with the Windows default icon as the My Computer icon, and "blank.ico,0", 
>my registry entry, as the name for the icon.  I have a blank icon on my hard drive 
>named blank.ico.  What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I had the same problem until I created a blank icon in paint. I found the instructions on the web. Actually it is easier than you think. Open paint, goto Image>Attributes then change the numbers to 32. Paint the image white and save as an Blank.ico. When you refer to the file in the registry use the full paint file path in place of "filename,##". For Example, "C:\My documents\Blank.ico".


On Monday, October 29, 2001 at 5:17 pm, Mike Greening wrote:

>Hi, I'm trying to remove the My Computer icon using the "half-assed" solution of 
>changing it to a blank icon and then entering a single space for the name.  I am 
>using the recommended registry edit procedure on the following page:
>
>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-016
>
>I end up with the Windows default icon as the My Computer icon, and "blank.ico,0", 
>my registry entry, as the name for the icon.  I have a blank icon on my hard drive 
>named blank.ico.  What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

If your just wanting to not have the icons on your desktop so that your pretty desktop background is not jumbled up with icons you can juust drag the icon to your start menu or your task bar and then delete it from your desktop.. That is what I ussually do when I don't want an Icon there.. The people here at annoyances didn't exactly explain the change the icon rule to good. The first time I did it I found out that gif and jpg don't wprk for an icon. You have to use bmp at a specific pixel size or use .ico. If the icon your using is part of another program then yuo have to find out the program number for the icon other wise all you have to do is put it into a folder.. It is also possible to do a search for all of the default icons and just replace them with what you want... I think this site is mainly just a promotional stunt for their book


On Monday, October 29, 2001 at 5:17 pm, Mike Greening wrote:

>Hi, I'm trying to remove the My Computer icon using the "half-assed" solution of 
>changing it to a blank icon and then entering a single space for the name.  I am 
>using the recommended registry edit procedure on the following page:
>
>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-016
>
>I end up with the Windows default icon as the My Computer icon, and "blank.ico,0", 
>my registry entry, as the name for the icon.  I have a blank icon on my hard drive 
>named blank.ico.  What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

To answer your question, you have to type in the full file path in place of "##,0". For example, "C:\My Documents\blank.ico"

HOWEVER, This worked for me in win 98, and you don't even have to go into the registry:

Right click on desktop

Select "Properties"

Select "effects" tab

In "Desktop Icons" window, select the icon you want to change. (Listed are all the "ibedded" desktop icons, such as My Computer, Recycle Bin, Network Neighborhood, and My Documents for 98.)

Press "Change Icon" button

A new window will pop up called "change icon".

Type in the filepath to your icon, blank or what ever you like, or browse for it using the browse button.

>Hi, I'm trying to remove the My Computer icon using the "half-assed" solution of 
>changing it to a blank icon and then entering a single space for the name.  I am 
>using the recommended registry edit procedure on the following page:
>
>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-016
>
>I end up with the Windows default icon as the My Computer icon, and "blank.ico,0", 
>my registry entry, as the name for the icon.  I have a blank icon on my hard drive 
>named blank.ico.  What am I doing wrong?
>
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

If you want to to make all the icons on the desktop disapear then: Go in to explorer veiw->folder options... Select the veiw tab and check "Hide icons when desktop is veiwed as Web page". Then turn on active desktop.. TaDa!


On Monday, October 29, 2001 at 7:51 pm, Mike Greening wrote:
>Thanks Dale for your prompt response, but I guess my goals were unclear. I only
>wish to hide the My Computer icon from view (as opposed to removing it) by making
>it into a blank icon, then changing the name of the icon to a single space. I have
>used the method for hiding all icons on the desktop, but this restricts my ability
>to have a background image. My goal is to have a "naked" desktop, free of visible
>icons, with a backgroud wallpaper image. Is this possible?
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Have a slightly different problem, but it sounds like it might be related. Running Win98SE on a Dell Dimension L433c, Samsung 17" monitor. When i reboot, all desktop icons appear okay. Have screen_saver set to kick in after 15 minutes inactivity, power management set to put the monitor to sleep after 30 min inactivity. When the monitor restarts, there is a green 'brick' on the screen, occupying the 2nd icon position in the second row of the desktop. The brick is not 'sensible' -- cannot click it, move it, as far as the system is concerned it's not really there. Have tried logging active tasks before & after the sleep cycle, but have not found a clue. ANY ideas will be entertained. Ken Thompson StLouis, MO

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