Re: [OT] An administrator is needed to delete my desktop icons

[Thomas Koster]

On 29 January 2016 at 17:24, Thomas Koster  wrote:
> One of the machines I deploy to is maintained by an IT contractor.
> There is a lot of garbage on this machine, and every time they install
> some new garbage I get new icons on my desktop.
>
> I'm tired of looking at it, but when I try to delete these icons from
> *my* desktop, Windows tells me I need to be an administrator.
>
> What gives? Do I have to resort to sticking Post-its over them?
>
> (Windows Server 2008 R2, Remote Desktop Services)

On 31 January 2016 at 14:59, noonie  wrote:
> Have an administrator deny read access on "C:\Users\Public\Desktop" for your
> account and you won't see any of them. Not sure if there are any unusual
> side-effects for this :-)

I won't bother them with this because my customer will get the bill.
However, I do have access to a separate account in the Administrators
group so I tried it myself.

And it worked. But I too am nervous about unintended side-effects.
This was a very large sledgehammer to use on such a tiny picture frame
nail.

--
Thomas Koster

Re: [OT] An administrator is needed to delete my desktop icons

[Thomas Koster]

On 29 January 2016 at 17:24, Thomas Koster  wrote:
> One of the machines I deploy to is maintained by an IT contractor.
> There is a lot of garbage on this machine, and every time they install
> some new garbage I get new icons on my desktop.
>
> I'm tired of looking at it, but when I try to delete these icons from
> *my* desktop, Windows tells me I need to be an administrator.
>
> What gives? Do I have to resort to sticking Post-its over them?
>
> (Windows Server 2008 R2, Remote Desktop Services)

On 29 January 2016 at 17:31, David Kean  wrote:
> There are really two desktop folders. An "All Users" folder, and a
> "Current User" folder, these are merged together to form the desktop
> as you see it.
>
> You typically need admin rights to install/remove shortcuts from the
> All Users folder, that's what you are likely running into.

Thanks David. I should have been more clear. What I really want to know
is, what can I do about it? I don't want to delete shortcuts from the
"All Users" directory because the other users may love them. I want to
delete/hide them from my own desktop only. (I appear to be one of a
small minority of Windows users who prefer to keep their desktops
blank.)

Thanks,
Thomas Koster

Re: [OT] An administrator is needed to delete my desktop icons

[noonie]

Thomas,

Have an administrator deny read access on "C:\Users\Public\Desktop" for
your account and you won't see any of them. Not sure if there are any
unusual side-effects for this :-)

-- 
noonie


On 31 January 2016 at 14:10, Thomas Koster  wrote:

> On 29 January 2016 at 17:24, Thomas Koster  wrote:
> > One of the machines I deploy to is maintained by an IT contractor.
> > There is a lot of garbage on this machine, and every time they install
> > some new garbage I get new icons on my desktop.
> >
> > I'm tired of looking at it, but when I try to delete these icons from
> > *my* desktop, Windows tells me I need to be an administrator.
> >
> > What gives? Do I have to resort to sticking Post-its over them?
> >
> > (Windows Server 2008 R2, Remote Desktop Services)
>
> On 29 January 2016 at 17:31, David Kean  wrote:
> > There are really two desktop folders. An "All Users" folder, and a
> > "Current User" folder, these are merged together to form the desktop
> > as you see it.
> >
> > You typically need admin rights to install/remove shortcuts from the
> > All Users folder, that's what you are likely running into.
>
> Thanks David. I should have been more clear. What I really want to know
> is, what can I do about it? I don't want to delete shortcuts from the
> "All Users" directory because the other users may love them. I want to
> delete/hide them from my own desktop only. (I appear to be one of a
> small minority of Windows users who prefer to keep their desktops
> blank.)
>
> Thanks,
> Thomas Koster
>