How to Add Four (4) Highly Useful Icons to Your Windows Desktop

If you’re like me, there are certain tasks you do on your computer that are not that easy to find when you want them. I’m not fond of the Start Menu where I have to go searching for these items, even if some of them are in Accessories. Put them on your desktop and they’ll be there when you want them.

The applications I use often are:

• Windows Explorer
• Notepad
• Calculator
• Character Map
• Various games (Solitaire, Spider, Freecell, Minesweeper)

Here’s the easy way to add these icons to your desktop.

Windows Explorer

The Windows operating system usually has the “My Computer” icon on your desktop when you first take your computer out of the box. My Computer is okay, but I think Windows Explorer does a better job with searching and organizing your files. Here’s how to add the icon to your desktop.

Hold down the Windows key and tap E. This will bring up “My Computer”. Make sure it is not maximized, you will need to be able to see at least a little of your desktop.

Tap “Cdrive (C)” on the left or double click on “Cdrive (C)” in the right pane. This will give you a list of subfolders in your C: drive. If your computer is relatively new, or you haven’t loaded many programs, this will be a short list.

Click on the folder near the bottom named WINDOWS.

On the right pane scroll down the list of files and find the one that says ‘explorer.exe’

You can right click on explorer.exe and choose the menu option ‘create shortcut’. The new shortcut will be in the Windows folder at the bottom. Left click on it, hold the mouse button down and drag it to your desktop. Let go of the mouse button and the icon will be on your desktop.

Even easier is to hold down the CTRL and SHIFT keys at the same time, then click on explorer.exe and drag the words to your desktop. Let go of the mouse button and then stop pressing the Ctrl and Shift keys. This will automatically create the shortcut on your desktop with no intervening step.

Feel free to edit the name of this icon since it’s only a shortcut. I don’t like it to say “shortcut’ personally. I know if there’s a curvy arrow in a box in the lower left corner of the icon, it’s a shortcut. Click on the icon once and press F2. The words “Shortcut to explorer.exe” will be highlighted. Type “Windows Explorer” and hit enter and you’ll have changed the name.

NOTEPAD

With My Computer still open to the WINDOWS folder, scroll down to the n’s and find notepad.exe. Hold down CTRL and SHIFT keys, click on notepad.exe and drag it to your desktop, releasing the mouse button and then the Ctrl and Shift keys. Rename it if you want by tapping F2 to highlight the words and you can type “Notepad” instead.

CALCULATOR

With My Computer still open to the WINDOWS folder,
Click on the subfolder “system32” (not just system). Scroll down to the c’s and find calc.exe. CTRL SHIFT and click on calc. exe; drag it to your desktop and let go of the mouse then release the Ctrl and Shift keys. F2 to rename it Calculator.

CHARACTER MAP

You may not use this, but I certainly do. Ever want to use the symbol for copyright or registered trade mark? They’re in here. When you need it, you don’t want to have to search for it. You’re in the right folder anyway, so make the icon.

In My Computer, WINDOWS, system32 folder, scroll down to charmap.exe. CTRL SHIFT drag and drop it to your desktop, release the mouse, then release Ctrl and Shift keys. F2 to rename it “Character Map.”

Spider and other games
Here is a list of some games you’ll find in the WINDOWS system32 folder. CTRL SHIFT drag and drop to create shortcuts. F2 to rename them.
SOLITAIRE -sol.exe – that’s the standard solitaire game
SPIDER - Spider.exe – Spider solitaire, my favorite. Create a shortcut on your desktop.
FREECELL - freecell.exe.
MINESWEEPER - winmine.exe

Close My Computer when you’re done. You can move your new icons to a different place on your desktop, as long as your desktop properties are not set to ‘auto arrange.’

Tips:

Look around… different manufacturers include different games. Sometimes you’ll find reversi or a pinball game (in my setup, pinball is actually located in C:/program files/windows NT/Pinball/pinball.exe).

If there are items in your START menu PROGRAMS that you’d like to have as desktop icons, the CTRL SHIFT drag and drop trick works there too.