Can I remove the Folders Task pane from Desktop?

Q For some reason the Folder Tasks pane normally seen in Windows Explorer has appeared on my Desktop and I can’t get rid of it.

With a relatively small monitor it is taking up space I want to use for icons. How can I remove it? I am using Windows XP Home.
Michael Green

A This is a bug in Windows when it forgets that the Desktop is a special folder and shouldn’t use the same settings as other folders.

The fix is to change a setting in the Registry. Thankfully you don’t have to edit the Registry yourself as there is a helpful website that has the change available to download. Go to www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_ tweaks.htm. Scroll down the page and click on the link ‘15. Remove Common Tasks from the Desktop’. Click on the Run button. Click on Yes when the Registry Editor asks if you want to add the information in the file to the Registry and then OK.

Restart the computer and the Folder Tasks pane should disappear from the Desktop.

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