Warning: Editing the system registry can render your computer un-usable if the wrong settings are applied. Back up your system registry before attempting any modification below. Micro Computer Service assumes no responsibility for the results of any modification below that you attempt.  Enter the system registry at your own risk.

These tweaks are a collection obtained over the years from our own needs and discoveries, the Internet, books, magazines or other sources - MCS does not assume full credit for anything below.

This tweak allows you to control which icons are visible on your desktop. By modifying the desktop namespace you can add and remove special icons including My Computer, Inbox and Recycle Bin.

Open your registry and find the key below.

Each sub-key is a globally unique identifier (GUID) representing an icon, and the default value is usually a human-readable name for the namespace extension.

To delete an icon from your desktop step through the sub-keys until you find the key representing the icon you want to remove. Delete the sub-key and the icon should disappear after your press F5 to refresh the desktop.

To add an icon to your desktop create a new sub-key named using the CLSID from the table below and the icon should appear after your press F5 to refresh the desktop.

Below are a list of common IDs:

Administrative Tools {D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153}
Briefcase {85BBD92O-42A0-1O69-A2E4-08002B30309D}
Control Panel {21EC2O2O-3AEA-1O69-A2DD-08002b30309d}
Fonts {D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524152}
History {FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
Inbox {00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Microsoft Network {00028B00-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
My Computer {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
My Documents {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
Network Computers {1f4de370-d627-11d1-ba4f-00a0c91eedba}
Network Connections {7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
Printers and Faxes {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Programs Folder {7be9d83c-a729-4d97-b5a7-1b7313c39e0a}
Recycle Bin {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Scanners and Cameras {E211B736-43FD-11D1-9EFB-0000F8757FCD}
Scheduled Tasks {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
Start Menu Folder {48e7caab-b918-4e58-a94d-505519c795dc}
Temporary Internet Files {7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
Web Folders {BDEADF00-C265-11d0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}

Note: Not all icons can be successfully placed on your desktop. Right-click on the icon to display the options available.

System Key: [HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace]