I'm having trouble getting rid of unwanted icons on my desktop. I'm using Mint 17.3.

Coolg,

Welcome to LQ.

Just right click on the icon and then left click Delete.

Hello Beachboy2 and thank you for your reply. I'm not having any problem removing icons from current unused softwares, only from software which I have previously deleted. I feel that when I deleted the software, the icon should have deleted as well. Now when I right click, the delete function is "greyed out" and not only can I not delete the icon, I can't move it to another part of the screen either. It's not an end of the world problem but it sure messes up my desktop.
Cheers,

Have you tried reinstalling the software associated with the icon you wish to remove and then delete the icon FIRST before you uninstall the affiliated software?

how about loging in as root and deleting them?

Hello Jon,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have tried that. When I install some software, a new icon comes with it. I can then delete that icon no problem, but the software will not reference the old icon, nor will the old icon disappear when I delete the software again. .... Weird...
Cheers

Hello Robert and thanks for your reply. At this stage in my very limited experience with Linux, I am very nervous about attempting to mess around in the root environment, so will save your suggestion for a later time when I will be more confident with what I am doing.
Cheers

Coolg,

Which edition of Mint 17.3 are you using, Cinnamon, MATE or Xfce?

You can always take a photo of your Desktop using the Print Screen key and then send the photo as an attachment to your reply.

On my 17.3 MATE the only icons on the Desktop by default are Computer and Home.

I usually then add icons for Firefox, Thunderbird, LO Writer and Terminal via the Mint Menu.

You obviously managed to install this distro without too much of a problem.

After saving any personal data, documents etc to an external drive, you could always do a fresh installation if you wished.

It will not take long and you can start again with a clean slate.

Just a thought.

Coolg those icons would have installed using a root login so sometimes the only way to delete them would be by using root...

root is not that scary, some distro's only work in root...

If mint uses synaptic don't forget to tick the box that says "Automatically close after the changes have been successfully applied" that little tickbox is actually the persistant root login for synaptic, if it is unticked synaptic can't succesfully finish....

all in all, at this stage, it may be better to log into root's gui, there may be some other things the install needs to finish

if your noticing other things not working like they should perhap a reinstall is a better option...

a lot of times a reinstall is the best option, 'specially if you new to it, ill reinstall at the drop of a hat...

1 members found this post helpful.

Hello beachboy2 and thank you for your suggestions. I agree with your suggestion re a fresh install, after trying a few other things that just didn't work. I have already started copying files I don't want to lose and will try the fresh install in a couple of days. In the meantime, I am enjoying using Cinnamon!

Cheers
Gordon

Hello Robert and thanks for your suggestions. I agree with your suggestion re a fresh install, after trying a few other things that just didn't work. I have already started copying files I don't want to lose and will try the fresh install in a couple of days. Your comment about the "tick box" when closing Synaptic after making changes must be remembered. I guess that is why some changes I made to Synaptic some time ago didn't work. Thanks for that bit of information too.
Cheers,
Gordon

it's a tricky little tick box that one...i tripped up on that one big-time...

If you've been making changes to synaptic repositories through synaptic be aware to use tab instead of space for the gaps between what is specified there ie, between "non-free contrib main" are tabs, not spaces...

If your installing anything exotic, ie something that is meant to be configured during it's install, be aware there is also a "Configure" selection under the "Package" list in the file bar. Sometimes "Configure" needs to be manually invoked, but rarely...

Also please mark this thread solved if you feel so, the mods will love you for it...

Hello again Robert and thanks again for more timely information. Being a "first post", I didn't think to activate the "solved" option so now I know. Thanks also for the heads up about Synaptic tabs.... So much to learn.
Cheers,
Gordon