Windows 7: Remove Show Desktop Button

Anonymous
2009-11-24T19:11:46+00:00

Why does Microsoft insist on giving us useless features that we cant disable without going through x hours of troubleshooting and re-programming?  The current thing for me is the annoying Show Windows Desktop Button in Win 7 thats attached to the start bar and serves no practical function other than to look tacky. 

For those of you who don't know this already, the same function can be achieved by pressing the windows key+d. 

Personally, I find this feature to be inconvenient even for novice users due to its inconvenient location in the bottom right corner; essentially as far away from the start button as physically possible.

I'm a rather advanced user and I decided to switch back to Window$ from Ubuntu after 7 came out because of the performance improvement and support for adobe cs4.  (though thats another story entirely)

I suppose the question I have is where can this little 'feature' be found in the registry so I can remove it?  (or if there is an easier way to remove it i'd be interested in that as well, though Im nearly certain it doesn't exist)

Also as a side note to Microsoft:  Perhaps an update to make this icon movable and removable via gui would be nice, seeing as how im sure several other people do not like it and have less experience than I do in programming and customization.

Edit: Im not interested in 'disabling' the active feature of it, I want to remove it entirely.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2011-02-22T00:45:20+00:00

Hello,

Unfortunately, this is by design.  However, there are 3rd party applications that would definitely accomplish the task at hand for you.  I apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you,

Aaron

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-06-18T17:58:47+00:00

    Ken,

    The current issue is that Microsoft is in a "group think", or, a "bunker" mentality over disabling a system icon so close to where "slider bars" are in play for casual users on forms and browsers, that in turn, cause accidential/inadvertent firing from an inadvertent mouse button release. In fact, I did contribute to the current issue by stating that older software with controls on forms that have certain features enabled will change the mouse cursor, but without a corresponding screen cooridinate value. You guessed it, the cursor jumps to the lower right hand corner also causing accidential/inadvertent firing, as I discovered while developing software programs.

    By the way, this problem has not gone away in Windows 8. For every form, there is a possible "margin" (of error) around it that is hardware dependant. It is possibe to have inadvertent clicks on underlying icons in this region for Windows 8 as well. Software developers relying on Windows / Visual Studio cannot control what hardware the software will be installed upon. Windows was founded upon the principal that its operating system could make all certified hardware compatible that virtually revolutionized the industry single handedly. Now it seems as though they have lost sight of what made them so famous!

    What a casual observer might conclude is that the government is pressuring you to keep this as some back door so that spying can take place. Otherwise, I'm at a loss why you couldn't provide something as simple as changing the ToggleDeskTop value in the registry,  __.dll -10032, my previous post suggestion, etc., so that users who find it anoying can get rid of it. By the way, there is no way I'm loading third party software that leaves a back door for a virus to attach later down the road, when Microsoft could be forthcoming about a feature it alone controls that nobody I can think of wants. Users of Windows since the advent of the "Flying Window" on keyboards know about this button and "D" to see the desktop. Consequently, if you somehow support this feature, the casual observer could only conclude that you must have stock or an interest in this third party software. Microsoft remaing stubborn on this issue for both Windows 7 & 8 is simply indefensible, and they are loosing credibility faster than the Obama Administration's exploitations.

    Nobody supports or defends Microsoft more than I do, not even Bill Gates. I have been responsible for thousands of people seeking Windows computers over my 30+ years. On this issue, we, the users and software developers are the "source of jurisdiction and the fountain of success" to whom Microsoft owes consideration. No "accademic" arguments/excuses should be tolerated by "we" the people! Be a stand up straight forward thinking guy, denounce this insidious feature, and begin a process to "customize" it so that it is useful to all.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-06-18T07:25:36+00:00

    Hello Ken,

    Thanks that you took time to reply; but we both know you just picked a subjective matter to post your opinion rather than thinking of current issue. The frustration continues with the M$ attitude - "I am too great to address your concerns". If you feel that there are many peoplw who are happy then I am definitely not part of that group. You should see some forums how people are lost using the new improved, so called secure OS.

    Thanks again.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-15T01:34:35+00:00

    Ken,

    May be some people love it. What nobody can understand is why are you silent on the name of the service, exe or DLL so we can place it in the "do not allow" section of registry?

    Are you willing to name it so we can service the complaints?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-06-14T19:54:00+00:00

    On Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:01:33 +0000, FrankPeck wrote:

    Ken,

     

    It would be nothing for Microsoft to add this "Show Desk Top" in Control Panel's "Turn System Icons On or Off", just as you would for the Clock, Power,, Action Center, Up Date, etc. For instance, if you move the cursor to the field in the lower right hand corner and "right click",  the drop down list adds "Properies." If you select "Properies", it take right to a place that microsoft could use to turn the feature off.

    As I said, "I don't think every change Microsoft has made has better
    than what came before." I was only disagreeing with Manehalla's
    statement that "the OS has increased insanely with  little or decrease
    in customer satisfaction."

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