How can I access my Recycle Bin if I hide the desktop icon?

JohnJSal

JohnJSal

Active Member
Right now my desktop is completely clear except for the Recycle Bin, so I was thinking I might hide that too and see how a completely empty desktop works out for me.

But if I hide it, how can I access it? I don't see it in my All Programs list or in my Windows Explorer.

Thanks.

(Windows 7 64-bit)
 
bin.png


That should be pretty self explanatory. :)
 
Why would you want to hide every icon? The shortcuts on the desktop is for your most used programs, apps, websites. Why access the start menu when it can be on your desktop screen? I'm just asking. Seems like it would be a pain in the butt to access it any other way??
 
johnb35 said:
Why would you want to hide every icon? The shortcuts on the desktop is for your most used programs, apps, websites. Why access the start menu when it can be on your desktop screen? I'm just asking. Seems like it would be a pain in the butt to access it any other way??
Click to expand...

Well, mostly because I don't open that many programs. Mainly Firefox, Windows Explorer, and....well, that's usually it! Every now and then I run other things like virus software, but I just pinned those to my Start Menu. Firefox and Windows Explorer are pinned to my task bar (Windows 7).
 
What I do is give the Recycle Bin a Transparent Icon and name for Empty, and leave the Full Icon as is. That way I am reminded that something is there when full, but the Icon disappears when I empty it.
 
User0one said:
What I do is give the Recycle Bin a Transparent Icon and name for Empty, and leave the Full Icon as is. That way I am reminded that something is there when full, but the Icon disappears when I empty it.
Click to expand...

Great idea!

Edit: Hmm, okay, how do you change the name? And for transparency, I found one that was "empty", but it still had a white outline around it. Is that the one?
 
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On XP go to the Customize Windows Desktop, There is a spot to change Recycle Bin, My Computer, etc icons, When you change a Icon in Windows you are taken to the Stash of Windows System Icons.

I forget if 7 or Vista is the same as far as changing Desktop Icons, but probably not to different.

I once noticed a few empty spots between some of the System Icons, when I clicked on the empty spaces they showed as Transparent. There are a few of them to choose from.

When Changing a Name to a Transparent name, press ALT "0160" with out quotes, changes the name to a Blank Space. You do wind up with a small dot on the desktop but it is not underlined. If the desktop Background is busy you don't see the Dot, but if you use a solid Black Background a small pixel sized dot can be seen but isn't really too noticeable.
 
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If you right-click on the Task Bar and select Toolbars-> Desktop it will create a desktop toolbar that shows up as "Desktop >>" just to the left of the System Tray. I completely hide all the icons on my desktop but can still access them all via the Desktop Toolbar. The best part is that I NEVER have to close windows and such to be able to access anything on my desktop.
dsk_tb.jpg
 
Could just pin stuff to the Quick Start bar. I have all my icons in a row at the bottom, and my 5 most-used pinned directly next to the Windows button. Sometimes clicking twice to open something just takes too damned long :/
 
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