Quick Tip #1 - Organizing your desktop

Do you store all of your important documents on your computer desktop? Is your screen cluttered with icons representing these files? Perhaps you find that it takes you ages to find a particular file even though it is right in front of you.

Well you're in luck. There is a really simple way to organize your desktop files that will make them easier to find.

Take a look at the file icons on your desktop and see if they fall into a number of categories; photos, newsletters, school homework, etc. Start with the category that has the most icons (for our example we use the category Photos) and create a folder of that name on your desktop. You can then move all of your photo files into the Photos folder.

1. Close or minimize all of the programs you are running.
   
2. Move your cursor to a blank space on your desktop. Click the right mouse button to access the desktop menu.
   
3. Click on New. A sub-menu will open.
   
4. Click on Folder. The menu will close. You will see a folder icon labeled New Folder on your desktop.
5. Move your cursor over the New Folder icon and click the right button to access the icon menu.
   
6. Click on Rename.
   
7. You can now type over the file name. Change the name of the file folder to Photos.
8. Now we will move all of your photo files into your Photos folder. Move your cursor to a photo file. Click on the right mouse button and hold it down while you drag the cursor onto your Photos folder. Release the mouse button. Your file will disappear from your desktop.
   
9. You can check that your files were correctly moved by placing your cursor on the Photos folder and clicking the right mouse button twice. The folder will open to show it's contents.

Repeat this process for each of your categories and you will be amazed how much room you now have on your desktop.