XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

Posted October 14, 2008 · October 14, 2008

Hi,

Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)

desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest

of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not

recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any

icons or files.

Thanks for any info!

Posted October 14, 2008 · October 14, 2008

Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

"JKForde <jkforde@gmail.com>" wrote

>Hi,

>

>Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)

>desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest

>of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not

>recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any

>icons or files.

>

>Thanks for any info!

Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden

(right-click, Properties, General).

Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the

start menu.

I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.

Posted October 14, 2008 · October 14, 2008

Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>

wrote:

> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote

>

> >Hi,

>

> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)

> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest

> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not

> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any

> >icons or files.

>

> >Thanks for any info!

>

> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden

> (right-click, Properties, General).

>

> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the

> start menu.

>

> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.

Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...

I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes

up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed

and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop

(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left

of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.

to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a

pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google

Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't

allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be

able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set

that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be

placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making

any sense? Thanks!

Posted October 14, 2008 · October 14, 2008

Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

"JKForde <jkforde@gmail.com>" wrote

>On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>

>wrote:

>> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote

>>

>> >Hi,

>>

>> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)

>> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest

>> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not

>> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any

>> >icons or files.

>>

>> >Thanks for any info!

>>

>> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden

>> (right-click, Properties, General).

>>

>> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the

>> start menu.

>>

>> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.

>

>Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...

>

>I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes

>up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed

>and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop

>(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left

>of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.

>to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a

>pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google

>Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't

>allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be

>able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set

>that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be

>placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making

>any sense? Thanks!

Yeah, you are. But AFAIK, what you want to do can't be done without

some third-party helper. And I know of none myself.

Posted October 14, 2008 · October 14, 2008

Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Oct 14, 11:51 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>

wrote:

> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote

>

> >On Oct 14, 11:32 pm, The Bored Spoofer <spoo...@guess.my.addie.com>

> >wrote:

> >> "JKForde <jkfo...@gmail.com>" wrote

>

> >> >Hi,

>

> >> >Is it possible to specify a user-defined usable area of the XP (SP3)

> >> >desktop where shortcuts, files etc. will be placed and where the rest

> >> >of the desktop area that s not user-defined is off limits and is not

> >> >recognised by the system as usable and therefore is kept clear of any

> >> >icons or files.

>

> >> >Thanks for any info!

>

> >> Delete the ones you just plain don't use, or make them hidden

> >> (right-click, Properties, General).

>

> >> Put the others into either your Quick Launch area or pin them to the

> >> start menu.

>

> >> I run a TOTALLY CLEAN desktop that way.

>

> >Thanks TBS, I'll try to explain my wish better...

>

> >I have Google desktop sidebar on the right of the desktop which takes

> >up a chunk of the desktop where files, shortcuts etc. can't be placed

> >and that's fine. I also have a notes program running on the desktop

> >(StickyPad) which appears as a transparent window down the whole left

> >of the desktop (top to bottom). Now, when I save shortcuts, files etc.

> >to the desktop they are placed 'behind' the notes window and this is a

> >pain in the arse. What I'd like to be able to do is what Google

> >Desktop does which occupies a specific area of the desktop and doesn't

> >allow the rest of the system to use it. What I have in mind is to be

> >able to drag a cursor over the desktop into a rectanglar shape and set

> >that area as the usable desktop area - all files etc. will then be

> >placed within this user-delimited area and no where else. Am I making

> >any sense? Thanks!

>

> Yeah, you are. But AFAIK, what you want to do can't be done without

> some third-party helper. And I know of none myself.

Thanks anyway for your input Spoofer. I just tried to move the GDS

sidebar to the left of the screen but it actually doesn't kidnap the

area of the desktop 'under it' unless it is set to 'always on top'

which is no bleedin' good for general window screen real estate!

Any MVPs have any opinion?

Posted October 15, 2008 · October 15, 2008

Re: XP SP3 : User-delimited usable desktop area

On Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:46:43 -0700 (PDT), JKForde <jkforde@gmail.com>