desktop icons and shortcuts

[glenrose]

Hi:

I have heard that desktop shortcuts and icons slow down the operation of computers especially in win xp, is this true for 2000 and 98 as well.

thanks

[glc]

Yes. Shortcuts aren't too bad, but actual folders and files on the desktop hit even harder. Most noticeable at startup.

[glenrose]

If all icons and shortcuts are put in folders instead of being individual does this help.

thanks

[Force Flow]

If you store files on the desktop (yes, I'm guilty by several gigs worth), those files have an impact on loading time.

Now if you just have shortcuts to those files and folders, which are only a few KB each, it will dramatically increase loading time.

[glc]

I only have 4 icons on my desktop - My Computer, My Documents, My Network Places, and Recycle Bin. I know I can hide those too, but I'm not that anal. I have 13 icons in my quicklaunch and use the start menu or shortcut keys for everything else. The way I see it, I always have something open full screen and I never even SEE my desktop, so why put things on it? I use Windows Explorer for all my file management - I download to folders, not the desktop.

[PMich]

I've noticed icons migrating to my desktop since I started using the "show desktop" function of the quicklaunch a lot. I put it right next to the start button and now I can't live without it.

[glc]

There are too many programs out there that throw icons on your desktop and all over your start menu without asking when you install them. I consider this rude behavior. AOL is the worst - last I looked, it throws 9 icons on the desktop and puts them in multiple places in the start menu, quicklaunch, and systray whether you like it or not. I like programs such as Spybot S&D that asks your permission to install shortcuts anywhere and lets you choose where - desktop, start menu, and/or quicklaunch.