Desktop Icons Hidden

[lynndelap]

I went in to change the desktop to view as a Web so that I could hide icons, but then I was unable to bring up the one icon I do need to show. On one of our systems we want only one icon to show up, which is a link to an exe. file on our server. We do not want the employees messing around with the Office Programs, IE 5.5, Outlook Express, etc. How can I achieve this in the most simple way? <img src=/S/brickwall.gif border=0 alt=brickwall width=25 height=15>

[R2]

I don't think you can both "Hide all Icons" and show one. What you can do is set the Policies up so that you have a personalized Start Menu that essentially contains just the one program.

However, no matter how hard you try, there will always be a hacker that can undo your settings!

[lynndelap]

Can you lead me in the right direction to set up Policies? Thank you. <img src=/S/bow.gif border=0 alt=bow width=15 height=15>

[R2]

It will depend on your OS. The Win9x systems use something called Poledit.exe (Policy Editor). In Win2K/XP, I THINK the tool is called Gpedit.msc (Group Policy Editor). I can help you with either.

I all honesty, you don't need to use these interfaces IF (and only IF) you are extremely comfortable working in the registry. You could create a .reg file that will set up a system exactly as you want, and then use that same .reg file on each computer you want to secure. You can get as "tight" as you want using any of these techniques.

Zisman's article on Poledit is one of the best.

The story on the Win2K/XP Group Policy is more complex, but in practice, it does not have to be.