i did a search and didn’t see anything about this, so please forgive if the question has been asked before.
at work i was recently moved to a different desk with a different computer. i’m trying to get it all setup the way i like it, and it doesn’t have a shortcut to the desktop in the quicklaunch bar. i tried creating a shortcut to c:\windows\desktop, but that brings up a folder with stuff from the desktop in it. i’m using win98. help?
It doesn’t look like a regular shortcut (.lnk file).
I reverse engineered this from my desktop - seems you have to create a file named something like Show Desktop.scf. It’s a text file with the following contents:
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
You then add a shortcut to this scf file to your quick launch toolbar.
Haven’t tried this on another machine so YMMV.
I did the same thing. Works fine.
Go to Find File. Type in Show Desktop. You will see a Show Desktop file in C:\Windows\System. Right-click on that (don’t path it; choose it straight from Find File), choose Create Shortcut. It will say you can’t create one there and ask if you want to place it on the desktop. Say yes, then drag it from the desktop onto your Quick Launch toolbar.
(It is a .SCF file, as Darren said, but it’s already there in Windows - you don’t have to create it; at least I never had to.)
My method might be easier for you if you don’t know how to path a save to your Quick Launch folder, which may, also, be hidden depending on how your system is set up.
I’m curious, why do you want to do this? Is it something I should look at doing myself?
ski - I’m guessing abuse angel saw this on a different computer (IE 5 (?) installs such a shortcut by default) and wanted to replicate it.
I’m not sure if you are aware of this shortcut already, but I do find it useful. If you hit the windows button and the d button at the same time, it will minimize all open windows, sending you to the desktop.
OoOoOoO! I like that!!
[sub]oh jeez did that make me sound like a computer geek, lol[/sub]
obligatory follow-up post
I did not know that, but I like it too! I’ll try to remember it, since I almost ALWAYS have like 6 or 7 windows open.
You can also use Windows-M to get the same result. D for Desktop, M for minimize.
Windows-E brings up Explorer
Windows-F brings up Find File
Windows-C brings up Control Panel
etc…
Ooohhh… That’s handy…
Any idea where I can get a complete list of these commands? I would try pressing keys at random, but the last time I did that, my monitor went green and displayed everything in Latvian.
In case anyone is interested, there is a free program called TopDesk that places an icon in the system tray, and when you click it a menu of your desktop items will appear. You can get it here.
BTW, to see what TopDesk looks like, here’s a screenshot.
thanks guys! i found the file and made a shortcut to it. much better.
this is a shortcut that was originally on all of the computers here at work. i use it all the time, when i have several windows open (internal web, dial-up numbers, screenshots of other operating systems, a list of dun error codes, etc.) and i need to get to the desktop to walk a customer through something.
unfortunately, some of the techs feel that they need to remove useful tools from the computers, and add on toys and mp3s and crap. which is why everytime i change computers i have to go through and create shortcuts to everything i need, rename the shortcuts on the desktop from those nifty “kewliz” (or however the fuck you spell it) names, and delete a whole bunch of unauthorized garbage.
speaking of which, does anyone know how to rename the recycle bin?
this i can use. happen to know one that brings up my computer or dial-up networking?
Here’s the complete list of Windows key shortcuts AFAIK:
Windows+M – Minimize all open windows.
Windows+Shift+M – Maximize all windows that were minimized.
Windows+E – Open Windows Explorer.
Windows+F – Open Find.
Windows+Ctrl+F – Open the Find:Computer box.
Windows+R – Open the Run window.
Windows+Break – Open System Properties.
Windows+Tab – Cycle through the applications in the Taskbar.
And of course the Windows-logo key by itself opens the Start menu. Also, you can create your own shortcuts using the Ctrl-Alt-Key combination by right-clicking on a shortcut link and selecting Properties.
aa, I have ME but its like W98, what I do is just hit START: then H then input in the box that comes up ‘desktop’ then it shows how to do anything with the desktop. never under estimate the power of windows instructions.
This did nothing for me. But Windows-M did minimize all open windows.
Thanks for the good tips!
