Tip #8: Virtual Desktops for Windows XP
Today's tip is on creating virtual desktops for Windows XP... Anyone with experience using a Linux based PC already knows the value that virtual desktops offer, and now XP users can take advantage of some extended desktop "real estate" as well...
Everyone should already be aware of and familiar with what your PC's desktop is... It is the primary "window" of your operating system upon which your icons and applications are displayed... What virtual desktops allow you do is to have 4 desktops running concurrently, each running seperate applications and processes for the current user... You can use one desktop for web browsing, one for e-mail, one for a programming IDE, and so on... The purpose of each window is totally up to you...
The application which makes this possible for Windows XP is a "PowerToy" released by Microsoft called Virtual Desktop Manager, and it is available for download here...
Download and install the application using the default path and options when prompted... Upon completion of the installation, the toolbar needs to be enabled on the Windows taksbar by right-clicking on the Taskbar, selecting Toolbars from the context menu, and then checking the Desktop Manager option...
Once installed and enabled, your taskbar should look similar to the image below...
Clicking on the number of a particular desktop immediately changes to that desktop... To move an application from one desktop to another, simply change to the desired desktop and click on the program's button on the taskbar... To display all four desktops simultaneously, click on the green four-pane icon on the left side of the Desktop Manager toolbar...
If you have any questions on today's tip, please leave a comment...
Everyone should already be aware of and familiar with what your PC's desktop is... It is the primary "window" of your operating system upon which your icons and applications are displayed... What virtual desktops allow you do is to have 4 desktops running concurrently, each running seperate applications and processes for the current user... You can use one desktop for web browsing, one for e-mail, one for a programming IDE, and so on... The purpose of each window is totally up to you...
The application which makes this possible for Windows XP is a "PowerToy" released by Microsoft called Virtual Desktop Manager, and it is available for download here...
Download and install the application using the default path and options when prompted... Upon completion of the installation, the toolbar needs to be enabled on the Windows taksbar by right-clicking on the Taskbar, selecting Toolbars from the context menu, and then checking the Desktop Manager option...
Once installed and enabled, your taskbar should look similar to the image below...
Clicking on the number of a particular desktop immediately changes to that desktop... To move an application from one desktop to another, simply change to the desired desktop and click on the program's button on the taskbar... To display all four desktops simultaneously, click on the green four-pane icon on the left side of the Desktop Manager toolbar...
If you have any questions on today's tip, please leave a comment...
posted by Jameser @ 1:03 PM
4 Comments:
At 7/05/2006 5:47 PM,
Anonymous said…
Hey I just wanted to say this is certainly one of the best finds that I've seen in a long time. I'm ready to make use of this!
*Knock Knock Knock
*"Oh Crap!" Switches from Desktop 1 to Desktop 2. "No Dad, I wasn't doing anything immoral...!"
Hah, Ok, just kiding. Thanks again mate!
At 7/05/2006 9:57 PM,
Anonymous said…
Also, I noticed from one of your images below, you have a custom windows theme. Could you explain where/how to do this?
At 7/06/2006 12:26 AM,
Jameser said…
Thanks for the comments, and I'll try to address the XP custom themes in the next few days... So check back I'll explain how to do it in detail...
James...
At 8/03/2006 8:37 AM,
Anonymous said…
Anyone that wants virtual desktops should have a look at VirtuaWin instead of the MS Powertoy solution.
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