how do you remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon

Anonymous
2011-01-18T14:51:03+00:00

i have win7 pro 64bit .....and i want to remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon....plz can u suggest me how to do it.....which registry have to be deleted?

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Anonymous
2012-02-09T17:39:38+00:00

On Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:51:03 +0000, bigyan adhikari wrote:

i have win7 pro 64bit .....and i want to remove shortcut arrow from desktop icon....plz can u suggest me how to do it.....which registry have to be deleted?

Although it's possible to remove the arrow, my recommendation is that

you do not do this. The arrows serve an important

function--providing quick visual identification of a shortcut. If you

remove the arrows, you run the substantial risk that sooner or later

you will delete something you wanted to keep, thinking that you were

just deleting a shortcut to it. I would leave the arrows as they are.

Ken Blake (MS MVP)

I think there are valid situations for this.  I would like to remove the arrow for shortcuts on the Desktop that I keep to certain folders.  I have file extensions on and don't keep installers on the Desktop, so I don't see the harm in removing the arrow from my "Documents" shortcut.  I won't ever think Documents is actually stored on the Desktop.  And if anything, it would only make me more hesitant to delete a shortcut, not more likely to delete a real folder.  I wouldn't advocate removing the arrow systemwide, but it would be useful for specific Desktop icons.  This is obviously the case, because Microsoft decided to remove the arrow for the "User's Files" folder added through the "Desktop Icon Settings" panel.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-11T11:09:46+00:00

    I did indeed read the link carefully.  I even read as far as "Option 2", which is for the 64 bit version.  That's where I came across the link to Ultimate Windows Tracker.  I can confirm it works.  I now have my desktop populated with clearly visible icons and those ugly oversized and patronising arrows have gone.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-11T04:58:15+00:00

    Thanks davidhk129.  The howtogeek.com solution points, for the 64-bit solution, toUltimate Windows Tweaker. Is that what you arepointing me to?  What is the risk you are referring to?

    Read the link carefully.......

    1. It does not specify which Vista version.
    2. It specifically says that it does not work for 64-bit.

    excerpt :

    Note: We’ve tested this and it works perfectly in Windows 7 32-bit as well, but does not work in 64-bit..

    For the benefits of others looking for answers, please mark the suggestion as Answered if it solves your problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-02-11T00:10:34+00:00

    On Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:15:37 +0000, davidhk129 wrote:

    Thanks davidhk129.  The howtogeek.com solution points, for the 64-bit solution, to*Ultimate Windows Tweaker*. Is that what you arepointing me to?  What is the risk you are referring to?

    The risk is :

    If you also have actual files saved in the desktop, you have now both shortcuts and real actual files mingled on the desktop and there are no " arrow " to tell you which are shortcuts.

    If you accidentally delete a shortcut, it is easy to create another one.

    If you accidentally deleted an actual file, say goodbye to the file.

    I'm with you entirely. And that's the reason why I too recommend

    *against* removing the arrow.

    Ken Blake (MS MVP)

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-02-10T22:15:37+00:00

    Thanks davidhk129.  The howtogeek.com solution points, for the 64-bit solution, toUltimate Windows Tweaker. Is that what you arepointing me to?  What is the risk you are referring to?

    The risk is :

    If you also have actual files saved in the desktop, you have now both shortcuts and real actual files mingled on the desktop and there are no " arrow " to tell you which are shortcuts.

    If you accidentally delete a shortcut, it is easy to create another one.

    If you accidentally deleted an actual file, say goodbye to the file.

    For the benefits of others looking for answers, please mark the suggestion as Answered if it solves your problem.

    Was this answer helpful?

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