[1101doc]

I like my Wallpaper!
I have tons of beautiful photos that I like to see without all those shortcut icons in the way.
I am also kinda lazy. Why click twice when once will do.
Now that I've discovered this method of desktop setup I'll never go back.

I have Toolbars on all the margins of my Desktop that auto-hide and provide one-click access even when my screen is full of something else!

No third party software required--works for Home and Pro.
Here's how to set it up:

Rt. click your Taskbar.
Hover over "toolbars."
Choose "new toolbar.

In the "New Toolbar dialog box left click "Desktop," to highlight.
Choose "Make New Folder" button at lower left.
OK

You now have a "New Folder" on you desktop. BUT.
This is a Toolbar Folder!
Drag the folder to any open margin of your screen(left,right,or top) and drop it there.
You now have a new toolbar!

Go to the little bumpy line at the top of the new toolbar and Rt. click.
Choose "Always on top."
Do it again and choose "Auto-hide."
Now the toolbar will pop out when you bump that Desktop margin with your cursor.
Other Rt. click context choices are "Show text" (gives title of icons)
and "Show title." (Displays name of toolbar) " View" offers large or small icons.

But wait! The "New Folder" is still on the Desktop. Rename it as you wish, but leave it there.
Any shortcut icon you drag and drop into that folder appears in your new toolbar
AND disappears from your Desktop!

Shortcuts in the toolbar are one-click launch shortcuts, just like "Quick Launch."
All normal Rt. click shortcut icon context functions are available inside the toolbar.
Drag and drop inside the toolbar to arrange icons.

If you move the toolbar folder off the Desktop, you will lose all your icons.
Ditto if you put it in a containing folder. Just leave it there.

You will likely want to remove the toolbar entry from the Taskbar to make room for your tabs. Just right click the Taskbar, hover over toolbars, and uncheck the entry for the newly created Desktop toolbar.

YES! You can do the same for the other empty margins of your Desktop and have four
Quick Launch toolbars that autohide, but are always on top even when you have the screen
full of something else. (I leave the Taskbar up and autohide the other three, but that's up to you.
Now when you get a new shortcut on your Desktop you can just drop it in whichever toobar you want.

To customize the covers of your three remaining desktop items
(I added a fourth-work folder-for balance)
Rt. click,choose "Properties">Customize>Change Icon.
Here you can select one of Windows' lovely preinstalled icons,
or "Browse" your computer for your own images.

You now have a Desktop with only three or four customized icons and
nothing else but your beautiful wallpaper AND all your regularly used
Shortcuts are always avaliable in one click.

To completely clear the desktop, right click an open space of the taskbar and choose "Toolbars." Put a check against the word "Desktop." "Desktop" will appear next to the clock with >> arrows. Clicking on the arrows will bring up a mini-toolbar of desktop icons. Now right click an open space of the desktop and choose "Arrange icons by..." Uncheck the entry for "Show desktop icons."

Your Desktop is clear, and all your shortcuts are just once click away.
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If for some reason you decide to delete the Toolbars, it is best done from the "Desktop" toolbar in the Taskbar. Just right click and choose "Delete."