Most people like to have icons on their computer's Desktop for quick access to their documents or computer or internet, but new computers with Windows have often only Recycle Bin icon on Desktop.
Selecting which icons to show on Desktop
In Windows XP, right-click an empty area of Desktop and click Properties.
In Windows Vista, 7 and 8, right-click (or tap and hold) an empty area of Desktop and choose Personalize.
In Windows XP, Display Properties window opens. Open the Desktop tab and then click Customize Desktop.
In Windows Vista, 7 and 8, Personalization window opens. Click Change desktop icons link in the upper left corner:
Windows XP users normally choose to show My Documents, My Computer and Internet Explorer icons on Desktop. Users in European Union countries might not see the latter option due to antitrust regulations. The My Network Places option is useful only if you have a local network (not the Internet!) and share files or printers between computer.
To prevent the Desktop Cleanup Wizard from appearing every two months, clear the Run Desktop Cleanup Wizard every 60 days check box.
Windows Vista, 7 and 8 users see an Icon Settings window instead. Select items you want to see on your Desktop. Usually, Computer , User's files and Recycle Bin are the items users need. The Network option is again needed only for those who share files or printers between computers over a local network. The Control Panel option is pretty useless because it is easier to find items using Start menu Search box.
Leave the Allow themes to change desktop icons checked.
Click OK when you're done.
Close the settings windows by pressing Alt+F4 on your keyboard or by clicking the red X button on the right top part of the window.
Arranging items on Desktop
Ok, so now you have your icons on Desktop. But what about sorting and lining up? Start again by right-clicking (tapping and holding on touch screens) an empty area of Desktop.
In Windows XP, move mouse pointer to Arrange Icons By and click Name.
In Windows Vista, 7 and 8, choose Sort by and click Name.
You can also sort Desktop icons by size, type or date the item was last modified.
Now you have your icons lined up by name and you can still move them around the Desktop by clicking and holding mouse button on an icon and moving it to any place you like.
If you want your icons arrangement to be fixed to a setting, right-click an empty Desktop area again.
In Windows XP, choose Arrange Icons By and click Auto Arrange.
In Windows Vista, 7 and 8, open View and click Auto arrange icons.
If you want Desktop icons arranged in fixed size rows and columns plus prevent icon overlapping, select Align to Grid (Windows XP) or Align icons to grid (Windows Vista, 7 and 8). If not, deselect it and you are able to move any icon to any position you like.
To clear the whole Desktop and show just wallpaper, deselect Show desktop icons. This will hide all icons on Desktop until you enable Show desktop icons again.
In Windows Vista, 7 and 8, you can also select Desktop icon size by selecting Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons.
In Windows 7, you can show or hide Gadgets by enabling or disabling the Show desktop gadgets option.
