[How-To][Gnome] removing desktop default icons

[ayu]

I like having a nice wallpaper on my desktop, maybe some useful gadgets on the panels and stuff. But that's about it, I would not use Gnome if it wasn't because of those reasons.

Thing is though, I hate having a bunch of useless icons on the desktop, especially "computer, trash" and others. So I finally found where to disable them in an easy way.

This is the GUI method, go to Applications -> System tools -> Configuration Editor (or where ever you have your conf editor, or type gconf-editor in a terminal), then do as following.

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apps -> nautilus -> desktop:
computer_icon_visible unchecked
home_icon_visible unchecked
trash_icon_visible unchecked

The shell method using the normal tool

To show the information stored, type this in a Terminal (use gconftool-1 for Gnome 1.x)

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gconftool-2 -R /apps/nautilus/desktop

And then to remove the trash can on the desktop you can type

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gconftool-2 -s --type bool /apps/nautilus/desktop/trash_icon_visible false

Info on GConf:

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http://projects.gnome.org/gconf/

Personally I found this very useful : )

[computathug]

Nice one Cats!

Will be backing everything up and installing debian again this week soon as i get some time

[ayu]

Will be backing everything up and installing debian again this week soon as i get some time

Sounds like a wonderful idea man!

[leetnigga]

Nice tip. Now all you need to remove is those panels, window decorations and gadgets

[ayu]

Nice tip. Now all you need to remove is those panels, window decorations and gadgets

Naaah, I kinda like them ; )

[bad_brain]

good one cats...

and yeah, on my Lenny system I also like it funky by using compiz, emerald theme manager and customized icons.... imo a desktop system has to be a little entertaining and shiny, on a server system facts are all that matter and there is no use for funkyness (hm, well, a permanent server load of less than 0.20 IS kinda funky nonetheless ^^ ).

on a desktop system such gimmicks even support the learning process imo, because if something fails (and that is not too rare) you have to figure it out in a shell anyway.

[ayu]

good one cats...

and yeah, on my Lenny system I also like it funky by using compiz, emerald theme manager and customized icons.... imo a desktop system has to be a little entertaining and shiny, on a server system facts are all that matter and there is no use for funkyness (hm, well, a permanent server load of less than 0.20 IS kinda funky nonetheless ^^ ).

on a desktop system such gimmicks even support the learning process imo, because if something fails (and that is not too rare) you have to figure it out in a shell anyway.

Agreed : )