The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
- Microsoft Windows 95
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry.
Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if
a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring
the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key"
Help topic in Regedt32.exe.
SUMMARY
This article explains how to remove and restore the default Desktop icons
such as Inbox, Windows Internet Explorer, and Recycle Bin. This process is
identical on both Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95.
MORE INFORMATION
To Remove Icons from the Desktop
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that
may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor
can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And
Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete
Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in
Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.
- Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe).
- Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key.
- Navigate to the following location under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key:
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace
You see several hexadecimal strings called CLSIDs. Select each one in
turn, and the right pane will show you which icon is being selected.
- When you have the appropriate icon entry selected for the icon you want
to remove from the desktop, export the key by using the Export Registry
File command on the Registry menu. You need to choose a path and
file name under which to save the file.
- After the key has been exported, you can delete the icon entry to remove
it from the desktop. Click Yes in the confirmation box to complete the
icon deletion process.
- Quit Registry Editor, log off, and then log back on to the computer.
When you log on again, the icon will have been removed from the desktop.
To Restore Icons to the Desktop
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that
may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor
can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And
Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete
Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in
Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.
- Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe).
- Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key.
- Navigate to following location under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key:
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\
- Select NameSpace.
- On the Registry menu, click Import Registry File, and type the path to
the location of the registry file that was exported in the preceding
procedure.
- Select the file name to which the registry key was saved. Click Open,
and then click OK.
- Quit Registry Editor, log off, and then log back on to the computer.
When you log on again, the icon will have been replaced back onto the
desktop.