TECH Tip

Topic -

How to create desktop icons

What is an Icon?

An icon on your desktop is a quick way of opening an application. Example; let's say that you use Word all the time. Instead of going to start, All Programs, Microsoft Office and then clicking on Word to open the program, you can double-click the Word icon on your desktop which is much faster. If an icon is deleted from the desktop, it does not delete the program, instead it deletes the shortcut to the program.

Here's how to create an icon on your deskop:

Using Windows XP - Click the Start button located on the left of the taskbar. Hover your mouse over All Programs and a second and/or third column opens to the right. Hover over the Microsoft Office folder and a right column opens and you will see Microsoft Office Word. Right click on Word and a list of shortcut options open. Hover over Send To and another column opens. Left click Desktop (create shortcut). Click any open space on your desktop which will close the rest of the columns. You now have Word shortcut on your desktop and can create more the same way.

Using Windows Vista - Creating an icon on your desktop is done the same way, however, there is a different look to the applications. When you hover over All Programs, the programs open within one column above where you clicked. You might have to scroll down to see the Microsoft Office folder. You have to click the folder to open it. Once opened you can create your shortcut the same way as using Windows XP.