JSI Tip 5998. How do I hide desktop icons in Windows XP?

Windows XP provides a special way to hide desktop icons.

If you are using the Windows XP Start menu, use the Registry Editor to navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerHideDesktopIconsNewStartMenu.

If you are using the Classic Start menu, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerHideDesktopIconsClassicStartMenu.

For each desktop icon that you wish to hide, Add a Value Name of the Class ID, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTCLSID\{Class ID}, as a REG_DWORD data type, and set the data value to 1.

Right-click the desktop and press Refresh to see the effect of your change.

NOTE: You can use the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key instead of HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

NOTE: Some common Class IDs are:

NOTE: See tip 5975 for adding Help and Support, Search, and Run functions to the Windows XP desktop.

NOTE: To hide all desktop icons, right-click a blank area of the desktop and press Arrange Icons By. On the context menu, uncheck Show Desktop Icons.