It will not be possible to completely remove the names of the shortcuts, since these are not just names, but the names of files (shortcuts to files are also files), and a file cannot live without a name. You can simply make the names remain, but become invisible. Let's consider the algorithm for writing invisible names in Windows XP; there are minor differences for Windows 7.
Instructions
Step 1
Switch the numeric keypad (on the right side of the keyboard) to number mode. To do this, use the Num Lock key to turn on the green Num Lock light.
Step 2
You need to know how to type characters that are not displayed on the screen. Any character from the keyboard can be "expressed" by four numbers - a code. Symbols that are not on the layout also have their own codes. Remember how you type a character that does not exist on the keyboard, for example, with code 160:
- press the Alt key, and without releasing it, type 0160 on the digital layout;
- release the Alt key.
You will get an invisible character that looks like a space to you.
Step 3
Use the mouse to activate the desired shortcut and enter the renaming mode in one of two ways:
- right-click and select "Rename" in the menu that opens;
- press the F2 key.
Step 4
Rename the shortcut so that the name contains only invisible characters. For most fonts, these characters are the space and the character code 0160. The same is true for the "Tahoma" font, which is the default for icon labels. When writing, keep in mind that:
- spaces at the beginning and end of the name Windows removes, so the name cannot consist of only spaces;
- at the beginning and at the end of the name there must be characters with the code 0160;
- insert any combination of spaces and characters 0160 between them;
- file names in one folder must be different.
Step 5
The name text has become invisible, but it may remain underlined or "highlighted" by the desktop background. To remove underlining from text, run the Folder Options component. This can be done in two ways:
- "Control Panel" => "Folder Options";
- in any open folder, select the "Tools" => "Folder Options" menu.
On the "General" => "Mouse Clicks" tab, turn off the "Underline Icon Captions" option.
Step 6
To remove the background, go to: "Control Panel" => "System" => "Advanced" => "Performance" => "Options" => "Visual Effects". Check the box next to "Drop shadows on desktop icons."
