One of my favorite programs for Windows 2000 was a program called SetShellView. This handy lil’ app allowed you to tweak the Windows desktop by having your desktop icons appear as “large icons” or “small icons” or as “list view” or “detailed view” – just like any other folder in Windows. Sadly, this program was not updated for, and does not work in, Windows XP.
I searched high and low for a replacement, and for the longest time I couldn’t find one. Eventually I found a post at some now-forgotten message board. It seems that someone else loved SetShellView too, and was also looking for a replacement. One of the replies to the original post was the two-word reply “Try this:”, with a direct link to a program called deskview.exe. I downloaded it and used it for the rest of my Windows XP days. And since it seems that my old site was the last place on the Internet that offered it for download, I decided to “port it” to the new site. So if you’re interested, read on!
As mentioned, deskview.exe changes your desktop icons from “large icons” to “small icons”. Unlike SetShellView, Deskview doesn’t have any options; you just double-click it to change the icons, then double-click it again to return your desktop to the default setting:
You can also put deskview.exe in your Startup folder, or you can put a link to deskview.exe in your Startup folder if you’d prefer. Deskview doesn’t remember your settings, so if you set it up and reboot your computer (or if Explorer crashes) you’ll need to double-click on deskview.exe and re-organize your desktop icons again.
Deskview works in Windows Vista, but requires some tweaking. By default, it will only shrink your existing icons down some percentage. For example, in the following picture the icons were originally set at “Medium icons” before deskview.exe was run:
IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not the author of deskview.exe, nor do I know how to contact the author of the software. I have no idea if this software is licensed, and if so, what terms are provided in said license. If you are the author of deskview and want me to remove it, or credit you with its authorship, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Download Deskview
11kb, zipped
[...] in your computer fast with a touch of a key: Press in the middle of Alt+Space! 14. Desktop = Deskview Turn your desktop icons into a list. The right thing is now more visible with the filenames [...]
wonderful post))
Good night, blogegrs =)
For Vista: hold CTRL and use your mouse scroll wheel to change the icon size, you can make them as small as normal list view using this method.
[...] Download Deskview.exe from jimcofer.com [...]
how do I change it back?
Its to small for me
never mind I did It
thanks
how is this different than destoplistview?
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=462433
Its ok untill the desktop is refreshed
But when the desktop is refreshed the names of icons overlap on other icons
how to uninstall deskview
@adi: just delete the deskview.exe file. There’s no “installation”.
[...] Download Deskview.exe from jimcofer.com [...]
Indeed, this app is one of the nicest windows tweaks :P ;)
Its just a simple desktop mod, but it gives so much free space!
Very good to get comfortable with this gross interface that is windows X.XX (and mac, and linux) (so gross:P )
The only crap with deskview is that it doesnt cut filenames’s lenght if there are 2 columns. (and if it ever gets to do it, i realy whish it wont make filenames ending with “…”) :P
Yet, having long filenames has good sides too;)
So yah, if someone reads this and cares, please give 1000$ to the software’s author :P
Deskview doesn’t work with Windows 7 RC 64bit
I had gotten it to work with Windows 7 Beta 64bit, but something must have changed.
nevermind… It works fine after you disable UAC … AND reboot.
Works great. It would be nice if I could choose to keep some icons large though.
deepdvd…
I also had problems with Windows 7 RC 64-bit and DeskView.exe.
UAC is turned off already. I used the Control Panel GUI and tried the registry method also.
What steps did you take to get it to work?
[...] Download Deskview.exe from jimcofer.com [...]
I just upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit (MSDN subscriber), and I can’t remember doing anything but turning off UAC to get deskview to work in RC.
Sorry Jay, but I’m in the same boat now. I’ll post here if I get it working again.
Jay, I figured out what I did to get it to work in Windows 7. It probably doesn’t have anything to do with disabling UAC either.
On both the Beta and RC, I had removed the watermark on the desktop that showed the version by using the tool listed (with download link) below. As a positive side-effect, it was also what made Deskview.exe work!
Just follow the directions.
RemoveWatermarkX64.exe
http://rs300.rapidshare.com/files/182853716/RemoveWatermark_20081210.zip
Apparently, I was too hasty on my solution. It only works temporarily after you log off after running RemoveWatermarkX64.exe.
After rebooting, it won’t work anymore.
Apparently, I was too hasty on my solution. It only works temporarily after you log off after running RemoveWatermarkX64.exe.
After rebooting, it won’t work anymore.
i agree that……..
Howto sort the list on the desktop ?
@Martin
Right-click the desktop and do Sort by -
This is the most handy program I’ve come across. Thanks mate!!
[...] Para regresarlo como antes, sólo haga clic de nuevo en deskview.exe Link: Descargar DeskView [...]
Windows 7 Ultimate (64 bit) …
One of my favorite programs for indows 2000 was a program called SetShellView. This handy lil’ [...]…
Fine……………..
[...] For OCD desktop icon people, Deskview works with Windows 7. I enjoy list view much better than the default view settings: DeskView [...]
I had problems getting this to work in Windows 7 x64 Ultimate but finally figured out something that works for me.
Instead of running the file directly, I created a shortcut to the .exe and ran that.
I put the exe in C:\Program Files(x86)\Deskview\ Then I put the shortcut in the startup folder for Win 7. C:\Users\YourProfile\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windws\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\
This way it starts up automatically when I log in
It didn’t work for me on Windows 7 until I went to Personalize -> Desktop Icons, changed those around (I previously had them all off), and re-ran the program.
[...] Deskview [...]
[...] Deskview [...]
[...] Launchy, a slightly modified iTunes Toaster Plugin, a very modified BottomBar for Rainmeter, Deskview, and RocketDock. [...]
[...] Deskview [...]
[...] Deskview [...]
[...] Deskview [...]
[...] Deskview [...]
My Deskview no longer works for some reason, I see the cmd flash like usual but it does nothing anymore
winxp sp3