Desktop Ninja

Ok in this Post I’m gonna give some tips on how to tidy up your desktop and make it more efficient and suave looking. My tips are for Windows XP since I haven’t tried Vista yet, some of them might still apply, you’ll have to check for yourself.

My desktop.

1. Efficiency

Nothing says “I don’t know how to work a computer” like having an icon for every file or program you’ve ever used on your desktop, and I cringe every time I see it (mainly because I know a better way).

Make a folder on your hard drive and name it something like “My shortcuts”. Move the shortcuts from your desktop that you use most, but have no business being on your desktop to that folder (eg: shortcuts to your work or downloads folders, fileshare programs, backup drives, image editors). If you have shortcuts that you don’t use, delete them (unless they came with windows). Most things can be found in the start menu anyway.

Next right click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Scroll up to where it says Toolbars and choose New Toolbar. Then browse and find the folder you just made and click OK. Done

Now to get to all your favourite apps and folders you can click the little arrow beside the shortcut folder’s name on the taskbar, you don’t have to search all over the desktop to find what you want.

2. Suaveness

Okay, now that your desktop’s tidy, it’s time to add some zazz (metalalocalypse, haha. Love that show). The following sites and info should help you with that.

2a. Custom themes:

Notice the black Vista style taskbar in my screenshot? Usually in Windows XP you’re not spoilt for choice as far as how it looks overall. The only two themes that come with it are the default one, and a silver one. Traditionally the only way to get more was to shell out a lot of money for the official themes software from Microsoft. Luckily there’s an easier way now. It’s not officially condoned, but it works and it’s relatively safe (I wouldn’t use it if I thought otherwise).

To get started I suggest going here.
They have a link to the patch that lets you do it and a few nice themes to start you off. You can always do a Google search if you want to find more themes.

2b. ClocX

Another thing you may have noticed I have, and maybe you don’t, is ClocX. It’s an analogue clock for your desktop that, again, helps lend a Vista feel to XP. You can download it here. (It’s free of course).

2c. Wallpapers

Really this is half of why we wanted to get rid of all that clutter isn’t it? My two favourite sites for wallpapers are InterfaceLIFT (for scenery and artwork), and WidescreenBabes (for… well, babes). Both sites have great looking High Def and widescreen wallpapers that between them should have most people’s tastes covered.

2d. Resolution

Make sure you’re resolution is turned up as high as it will go, unless you have trouble reading things. Everything looks better at a higher resolution and it gives you more space to see your pretty new wallpaper.

And that’s It. I hope it’s of use. If you’re wondering about the visualization in media player it’s Energy Bliss from Microsoft, check my other post for the link.

Update: Sorry people, it looks like widescreenbabes is gone. I’ll see if I can find a suitable alternative.

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