Delete desktop icons

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Level 1

8 points

Delete desktop icons

I have two icons on my DESKTOP (not the icon bar on the bottom). They are "Macintosh HD" and "My Book". I want to remove them from the desktop as both of these icons can be accessed through Finder. However, if I try to Trash them, the computer does not allow it. How can I remove these icons from my iMac desktop???

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on May 11, 2010 9:16 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Dave Stowe

Level 5

5,180 points

May 11, 2010 9:40 AM in response to DoctorSaul

Hi...click on the desktop...you will be in the Finder...click on the word 'Finder' in the upper menu bar....click on 'Preferences'....select the 'General' tab...un-check the boxes for the items you do not wish to have on the desktop...

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Answer 2

DoctorSaul Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2010 5:05 PM in response to DoctorSaul

David:

Thanks for your reply. It was so easy to fix that I'm somewhat embarrassed as I spent probably an hour on my own trying to figure out how to do this. Now that I know how, with your direction, it seems so simple.... Thanks again

Saul

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Answer 3

Dave Stowe

Level 5

5,180 points

May 11, 2010 5:08 PM in response to DoctorSaul

Everything gets easier with time......I have spent many hours figuring things out too.....Press ever forward....

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Answer 4

May 28, 2010 8:19 PM in response to Dave Stowe

Dave, I have an application on my desktop and also in the Finder at the bottom. If I delete it from the desktop it goes to the trash, which I don't want to do.

Sorry for asking the first of many stupid questions to come.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,568 points

May 28, 2010 9:34 PM in response to RickAdams

Rick,

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

The solution is simple you should be saving applications to your Applications folder. Drag the app to the Apps folder and it will not only be removed from your desktop but it will stay in the Applications folder. If you want to see it on your desktop after you have it in the Applications folder drag it to your Dock and then you can launch it from there.

Regards,

Roger

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Answer 6

May 30, 2010 10:15 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Oh good grief. Thanks.

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Answer 7

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,568 points

May 30, 2010 11:03 AM in response to RickAdams

Your welcome, btw if you are new to OS X I'd recommend reading:

Switch 101

Mac 101

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Answer 8

chun914

Level 1

0 points

May 30, 2010 8:00 PM in response to rkaufmann87

I'm new to mac and i have a similar issue after i downlaod and install MSN.

The download file appears in the 'download' dock and there's a desktop icon when i run MSN messenger.

It seems that if i delete the download file , i can't open MSN.

And is there any way not to show the MSN desktop icon when MSN is running ?

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Answer 9

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,568 points

May 30, 2010 8:33 PM in response to chun914

chun914,

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Going forward rather than doing a "me too" it's better to create a new thread. When you say you download and install MSN, what exactly is MSN? You should see file extension like .app when it's in the downloads folder. What is that extension, that might give me a clue as to what it is.

Also go through the Mac 101 and Switch 101 URL's that were noted above and get yourself a book on Snow Leopard so you can begin learning. A book I like is Robin Williams book, no not THAT Robin Williams! 🙂

Regards,

Roger

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