How to hide desktop icons? Should I run as root?

[Windows XP]

I've been trying it out on an older computer and it's very full featured, easy to use etc.

Some questions:

Is there an option to hide every desktop icon? I'm not a fan of them.

It runs in root. Doesn't this mean it's just as unsafe as Windows?

Otherwise, very nice!

[Lobster]

Is there an option to hide every desktop icon? I'm not a fan of them.

Not sure if something like this has been written but it would be a good idea

It runs in root. Doesn't this mean it's just as unsafe as Windows?

Windows carries spyware as part of its code.
At least 3 are documented - the full extent is unknown.
Windows carries open ports and running daemons easily and regularly compromised.
Windows commercial 'virus scams' induce fear and sell sham products that add to rather than solve the problem.

Puppy runs as root but with ports closed
The operating system is secure
Running as root on a single desktop is convenient
and safe.

Puppy is safe. Windows induced paranoia not required.
(We can issue tin hats for those so inclined)
http://www.puppylinux.org/manuals/puppy ... -daemons-0

Run free.

[Pizzasgood]

Is there an option to hide every desktop icon? I'm not a fan of them.

Right-click icon, click "remove item(s)". Rinse, lather, repeat.
To not do it one-by-one, hold the [Ctrl] key and left click them all, one by one. Then right-click one and click "remove items(s)" and it will remove them all at once.

It runs in root. Doesn't this mean it's just as unsafe as Windows?

No. It is still much safer. Partly due to the obscurity factor, but mainly because in Linux, things can't install themselves. Unless you configure things this way, or install auto-updating programs (Firefox, for example), things don't get installed unless you tell them to get installed. The browser is the main weak point, and there are directions on the forum to have the browser run as a non-root user, which limits how far it can be exploited. I would especially recommend that if you like using Java and a bunch of plugins, since the more you add to the browser the more potential security holes you give it.


However, running as root does mean that in some specific ways, it's slightly less secure than other versions of Linux. But due to the nature of Puppy, it isn't a big issue. Reasoning: get hacked in another linux, and your home directory is compromised, but not the OS itself. But your personal data is still available to the hacker to peruse or delete. With Puppy, the OS itself is also available to hack. But the reason this isn't a big deal is that unlike other distros, Puppy is incredibly easy to backup, and if you've made a remaster including the applications you like, it's also incredibly easy to reinstall (otherwise, it's still much easier and faster to do than with most other distros).

This still does take a small amount of time. But the thing is, considering the likelyhood of actually being hacked, and that the amount of time it takes to replace Puppy is so much less than the time you would spend to use Puppy as a non-root user every time you want to install something, that it is much more efficient and logical to just run Puppy as root.


That reasoning becomes flawed if you actually want to share Puppy between multiple people. Multi-user could be more efficient for sharing a single install of Puppy. However, Puppy supports having multiple save_files, which can also all be encrypted if you want privacy. In that situation, your personal data is actually more secure from being read than with a normal distro and limited users. However, it has the drawback that the "other" person can still mount the harddrive and simply delete your save file. Probably you would not share a computer with such a person. If you must though, you have another option: put the save_file on a USB drive and just take it with you when you're done with the computer.

[alienjeff]

Is there an option to hide every desktop icon? I'm not a fan of them.

Not sure if something like this has been written but it would be a good idea

Hide or remove?

If hide, open /root/Choices/ROX-Filer/PuppyPin with a text editor and "comment out" desired icon entries.

If remove, right click on icon, select "Remove item(s)." Repeat as necessary/desired.

[Lobster]

mainly because in Linux, things can't install themselves

Very good explanation from Pizzasgood.

I personally boot and run from DVD (data on HD)
That means that my programs are never hacked
- it is impossible.

As a new user and being root
and being in the command line you can do
much damage - if you try really hard

Why would you want to?

It takes a while for ex-Windows users to realize
we have no viruses (the scanner in 4.1 is for cleaning infected Windows)
No trojans
No security slow downs
Malware is just not an issue.

The great thing is FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt)
so common as a proprietary sales technique
is replaced by Confidence, Ability, Knowledge and Expertise (CAKE)

Linux comes with CAKE - YUM!

[amigo]

Disabling desktop icons is easy. Just browse to where the ROX-Filer Application is, right-click on its' AppDir and choose 'Disable pinboard'. Then if you ever want or need them, just do the same but choose Enable pinboard and they'll all still be there. Much handier than disabling them individually or by editing the conf file.

[Pizzasgood]

I personally boot and run from DVD (data on HD)
That means that my programs are never hacked
- it is impossible.

Not quite. You can be hacked for that session, until a reboot. And if by "data on HD" you mean you use a save file, then the hack can remain effective indefinitely, because the hacked files are stored in it. The original files will not be bothered; those are fairly secure on the DVD. But the the copies that would be made into the save file would automatically be used in favor of the originals each boot.

To remove the hack, you could simply stop using that save file, and Puppy would revert back to the original files on the DVD.


If you mean that you boot with pfix=ram every time, and manually store your data on the HD, then you're correct, with the above exception that you could be hacked for the duration of that session.

[recycler]

You can keep your icons but make them invisible.

Install picassa (there is a pet package for this). Find the image which you are using for your desktop. Crop down to icon size the correct part of the image for the icon you wish to 'remove' and then export that image. Open it up in the filemanager and drag the cropped image file into the box which appears when you say 'set icon' (right click on the icon and it is under file ")

It takes a bit of time to get it just right - and obviously some images work better than others - but I like the effect of it complete picture which I can then click on.

Leon

[recycler]

@ alienjeff

Thanks for the info about puppypin. I went to that file. Commented out an icon, saved it and reloaded the file to check it had saved my changes - it had. Restarted X - the icon is still there (this is a visible icon by the way, not an invisible one) and my changes are not saved to the file. To edit it I opened the file as text....

There must be something else I've missed - can you tell me? Thanks, Leon

[vg1]

To remove all icons but keep the wallpaper:
backup your PuppyPin as, say, PuppyPin-bak. Open it in a text editor & remove all icons, so it reads like this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<pinboard>
<backdrop style="Stretched">/mnt/home/Linux/setup/usr/backgrounds/silver.jpg</backdrop>
</pinboard>

ie only showing your wallpaper.
Save it and refresh desktop from the terminal:
rox -p /root/Choices/ROX-Filer/PuppyPin
or restart x.

If you decide your want your icons back, rename your PuppyPin to, say, PuppyPin-empty, copy your PuppyPin-bak to PuppyPin & reload desktop or restart as above.

vg

[alienjeff]

@ recycler

Hi Leon.

I trust your "commenting out" was XML format: ie <!-- stuff_to_be_omitted -->

and not bash script type commenting with a "#".

I'm not sure if there is another PuppyPin file somewhere in the file system which could be getting recalled. I'll snoop around ...

[3wsparky]

I am having the same issue , even though i have removed most of the icons there are three that popup everytime i boot

fd0 , sda1, sr0
there must be a script somewhere that is generating the links

any idea's where ?

[rjbrewer]

Go to:

menu
system- puppy event manager
uncheck stuff

good to have one icon on desktop: rightclick-show location
shows all the drives, clicking them operates Pmount

rjb[/list][/list]

[Pizzasgood]

It's also available by right-clicking those icons and going to "Run Desktop Drive Icon Manager".

[3wsparky]

puppy event manager is all unticked i checked
i have looked in

~/Choices/Rox-filer/Puppypin contains the item that i'm trying to get rid of however even if i comment that out it remains or restarting x so im unsure where its comming from.

[seeker]

 Is there an option to hide every desktop icon? I'm not a fan of them.

Same here, but they are too useful for me to do without. I have been using a script of mine to hide and show my desktop icons as I desire for several months. I leave the drive icons on all of the time. It works for me running a frugal Puppy 4.12 with icewm from EZpup 4.0. I run it from the Quick Launch in my taskbar. Use at your own risk.

Code: Select all

#!/bin/bash

pin_file="/root/Choices/ROX-Filer/PuppyPin"
saved_file="/root/Choices/ROX-Filer/DO_NOT_DELETE"
temp_file="/root/Choices/ROX-Filer/PuppyPin2"
backdrop="</backdrop>"
pup_event=".pup_event"
close_tag="</pinboard>"

clear_pinboard ()
{
	#read everything from the pinboard into the temp file except application icons.
	read line; echo $line >>$temp_file
	read line; echo $line >>$temp_file

	while read line
	do
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$backdrop"; then
	  echo "$line" >>$temp_file
	fi
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$pup_event"; then
	  echo "$line" >>$temp_file
	fi
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$close_tag"; then
	  echo "$line" >>$temp_file
	fi
done
} < $saved_file

icons_restore ()
{
	#read the file header and original saved icons into the temp file.
	#skip the old .pup_event icons and pinboard closing tag.
	while read line
	do
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$pup_event"; then
	  continue
	fi
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$close_tag"; then
	  continue
	fi
	echo "$line" >>$temp_file
	done
} < $saved_file

drives_restore ()
{
	#read the current .pup_event icons and pinboard closing tag from the pinboard into the temp file.
	#skip everything else.
	while read line
	do
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$pup_event"; then
	  echo "$line" >>$temp_file
	fi
	if echo "$line" | grep -q "$close_tag"; then
	  echo "$line" >>$temp_file
	fi
	done
} < $pin_file


if [ -e $saved_file ]; then
	icons_restore
	drives_restore
	rm -f $pin_file
	sync
	cp $temp_file $pin_file
	rm -f $saved_file
	rm -f $temp_file
	sync
	rox -p /root/Choices/ROX-Filer/PuppyPin
else
	if [ -e $temp_file ]; then
		rm -f $temp_file
		sync
	fi
	touch $temp_file
	sync
	cp $pin_file $saved_file
	clear_pinboard
	sync
	cp $temp_file $pin_file
	sync
	rm -f $temp_file
	rox -p /root/Choices/ROX-Filer/PuppyPin
fi

exit 0

Seeker

[steve_s]

seeker: very nice! I am looking to set up fluxbox as a 5.1.1 version of pupflux and this script works wonders for it...added it as a menu item and am giving you credit. Good stuff!

[DaveS]

Might this be a nice way? http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=56795

[Béèm]

hmm. launchbar.pet has been renamed?
I tried it in wary 070, but it doesn't work.
In quirky and lucid, no problem.

[DaveS]

hmm. launchbar.pet has been renamed?
I tried it in wary 070, but it doesn't work.
In quirky and lucid, no problem.

No Beem, launchbar.pet (for Lucid) is here http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 979#440979

Not tried with Wary. Will see what works now.......