Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Windows 7 Desktop Icons

by dlabanca Feb 2, 2010 8:22AM PST

I remember when I first upgraded to Windows 7, if I double-clicked on the desktop, icons would disappear, and if I double-clicked again, they reappeared. Was I dreaming?! It doesn't happen anymore and I can't figure out how to enable this feature. I find it useful when using a screen capture like snipping tool to save pictures. Thank you for any help.

Discussion is locked

3 Posts

- Collapse + Expand Details

- Collapse -

Taskbar

by jeff_windows_team Feb 3, 2010 4:21AM PST

If your taskbar is on the bottom, there should be a little rectangle on the right side. Clicking that will minimize all open windows. Does that provide the function you need?

- Collapse -

Try Stardock Fences...

by John.Wilkinson Feb 4, 2010 3:31AM PST

Stardock Fences is a free program that provides that functionality, as well as advanced desktop icon management, for Windows XP, Vista, and 7.

Hope this helps,
John

- Collapse -

when you double click

by peacox Feb 6, 2010 10:06AM PST

on any selected item, what windows does is select the item with the first click and then the second click actions the top command of the context menu for that selected item. In the case of the desktop the command at the top of the context menu is VIEW which just happens to be the command capable of showing or hiding the desktop icons, but the choice of showing or hiding them is a statisised option and I know of no way to toggle that choice on alternate performances of the view command. May be the windows team knows a way of doing it.
In the meantime to facilitate a clear screen for capture purposes just right click the desktop point to VIEW and select to unset the tick alongside show desktop icons on the sub menu, the icons will disappear.

Back to Windows 7 forum