XP Desktop Icons Smaller?

How do I make the icons on Windows XP Desktop Smaller?
I went to appearance and advanced and the icons did get smaller but the spacing between them didn't change, so the same number of icons stayed in 1 column of the desktop. My screen is 15.4"

Also, whats the best web browser, opera or firefox? Don't mean to start a debate, but just what do you prefer

 

You can try and change to a higher resolution to get icons and everything else smaller.
As for web browsers, firefox has been a fast and solid browser for years. Opera's not bad too. But definitely stay away from IE!

 

As said above try a higher res.

I prefer Firefox but, thats all personal preference. But, since there free, Why not try both & see for your self?

 

In my settings for display, it only gives me 3 options (im running xp home on a hp dv6000t.)
I am currently using 1280x800 (which gives me a nice display, but just large icons), and than there is 1024x768 which looks bad, and than 800x600 which looks really bad.

I like the display, and the layout of everything with my current settings, its just that I want to make the icons on the desktop smaller, so I get less clutter and less columns. Is that possible?

 

right click and go into the properties section.choose the apperence tab and effects. un check the show large icons box and your done

 

try and tell me if it works

 

I prefer IE7, but Firefox is pretty good as well, never got used to it though.

 

in the same area you changed the icon size, change the icon spacing (horizontal/vertical)

 

Goofball is right. The smaller the number the closer XP will put the icons to each other. You can adjust both horizontal and vertical or only one (depending on how you want the icons spaced on the desktop).

 

The use large icons is unchecked, that was the first thing I did.
I also tried spacing between Icons but all I got was a more spaced out list of icons but still the same amount in each column.
I currently have 10 icons per column, I would like to make that 15 icons per column. Spacing between icons vertically and horizontally just made the icons more spaced out, but did not allow change the number of icons per column.
Sorry if this sounds confusing, but what can I do to change that?

 

I'm not using Windows at the moment so this is from memory and may not be exactly right: right click your desktop, then click "Arrange Icons." My memory is especially fuzzy from here, but I think the next item to click is "align grid" or something similar. From here you should be able to drag your icons to wherever you like.

 

Thanks for the info, but I don't have a problem arranging the icons
Its just the size of them. My desktop is become cluttered with large icons, so I would like to make them smaller.
I have 10 icons in a column (top of the sceen, to the bottom), and I would like 15.
I know it is possible to do that, but how do I do it?

 

Guess I'm easily confused.

Edit: Maybe this is what you need. If not, I'm taking my desktop and icons and going home!

 

I finally get to laugh today. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the kevins crate info.
The thing is, I did that, I decreased the size of everything, Icon veritcal, horizontal, and just icon (I decreased all but the font size).

But still I cannot put more than 10 icons in 1 column, any other solutions?

 

Have you right clicked on the desktop and choosen to re-align the icons?

Make the icon, horizontal, and vertical numbers smaller as you did before. This won't cause icons to shift, only get closer to each other. You are basically adjusting the size of a grid, not causing the icons to take a different place on the grid.

Now right click the desktop and (I can't remember the exact item on XP) choose the arrange icons menu item. Play with the available settings, which should change the places the icons take on the new, smaller grid.

I believe you can set it to "align to grid" (again, can't remember exact XP terminology) and move them yourself. When you drop the icons they will align with the grid.

 

are they set to align to grid? if you unselect that you can manually move them however you want

 

Worked like a charm!
Thanks!!

 

I am VERY surprised nobody told you that you CAN make your icons bigger and smaller. It is in the same place as the icon spacing choices are. Smaller Icons will have less detail and quality in terms of appearance, though. Be aware, also, that failing to properly tweak your spacing parameters will make it necessary for you to drag newly-created or downloaded files into their proper position; for instance, icons = 32 + horizontal = 32 + vertical = 22 leaves gaps on the desktop when files are downloaded there, and I had to rearrange them manually to fill the rows and columns. So, if your desktop icons are 1024 (32•32) pixels, try 576 (24•24) pixels, then use trial and error to find optimal horizontal and vertical spacing.

 

gremlinkurst,

Please do not revive threads older than six months as it is against forum rules.

Thank you.