How to ditch the desktop in Windows

I'm trying to put a picture on my window, when I open my laptop or computer I can see the picture, but when I had open my control panel, and click on the icon display, it won't open if i select some its all like gray, I no I had some pictures saved on there and still it cant open. So is there a way , or how can i put a picture on it. Please help me..
Mahalo
Lanigirl

Thanks the heavens, another soul who understands the appeal of a clean desktop. Somethings like creating a desktop tool bar and turning off desktop icons were new to me. Is turing off desktop icons win 2003 only? Because on this XP machine I can't seem to find it (I'll try when I get home). There are times when having desktop icons is nice though, such as having icons for what ever games your playing now. Because your going to want to close everything else before you start them up.

"But that's where I keep all my stuff!"

I'm bipolar when it comes to the desktop - my desktop machine has about a gazillion icons on the desktop; from working files to application shortcuts. My laptop however is a different story, I removed everything and load all my common apps from a toolbar shortcut to a folder which contains shortcuts to my apps. (So when I click the icon on the task bar, it expands vertically to show my apps - a bit like the start menu but cleaner.)

I really should clean up my desktop. :p

For a quick peak at your desktop, hit the "Windows Key" and the "D" key, all windows minimize, hit it again and all windows come pack. Unless you have a ThinkPad without a windows key, so sad.

This article is about half of what you should do to get your desktop clean AND organized. The floating toolbar he docked to the top of the screen can be configured With or without titles, large or small icons, AUTOHIDE, etc. I have one toolbar hidden on the left side of my screen that holds all my graphicss apps. The right side of my screen has a hidden system apps tray. And the top of my screen has a hidden desktop tray.

Add "shading capabilities" to your windows, and mouse gestures to your operating system, THEN you are now organized and more efficient.IMHO

The only thing I use the desktop for is "virtual postit" notes.

Here are some screenshots of my current desktop at work:
http://boz.hobby-site.com:1127/screenshots/

Linux style "shading" for windows:
http://www.hmmn.org/FreeShade/

Mouse Gestures:
http://tcbmi.com/strokeit/

Boz

No way for me, I use application icons on the desktop to drag files onto, can't do that in the quick launch area. But I don maintain separation of my file types on the desktop, and the clutter gives me an easy gauge as to when it's time to clean up. If I put them in folders, those things are never going away.

Right click> Hide icons.

I just use "YzDock" for my icons, and put a desktop link there if I ever need it.

My thinkpad does the "windows key" with the right alt key. So I can have my cake and microsoft cake and eat it too. (it was enabled by default, I know there is setting somewhere to toggle that on modern thinkpads)

In other news, "not being able to have icons on your desktop" is a trademark feature of windows 3.1 and before (nt 3.51 and before too). Back in the days, when everybody thought "Macintosh are so much cooler 'cuz you can have icons on your desktop"

History is a snake that's eating its own tail.

This guy found a system that works for him and suddenly decides everyone should be working just like him.
There are plenty of valid reasons to keep items on your desktop. As long as it doesn't get out of hand and you can find what you need, what's the big deal?
If this guy has time to sit and stare at his blank desktop with no windows open he doesn't have enough to do. If I want to look at a pretty picture I'll put one on my real desk, not use my computer as an expensive picture frame.

PS: Windows+M is "Minimize All", Windows+D is "Show Desktop". They work in different ways but achieve the same end result.

been doing this with my desktop for a long time now....just glad to know I'm not the only one who can't stand all those damn icons