winamp and desktop
 

the thing is - i hate those icons on the desktop. and i always try to remove them. and now only my computer icon is left. the only way to remove it is to switch off the desktop in the registry. so i did, but winamp stopped autoplaying my cds! it just doesn't start. before that it played when i inserted a cd, moved the mouse a bit over the desktop, and winamp started to play. but now the desktop is switched off, and, i suppose, winamp just doesn't know that i'm alive and waiting for it to play! any other ways to remove icons and keep winamp autoplaying?

x-setup removes most icons from the desktop:
http://www.xteq.com/

how to hide my computer:
http://www.activewin.com/tips/desk_tips_9.shtml

this works at least for win9x, i don't see how this could affect cd autoplay though

btw. how did you disable the desktop?

What icons are you referring to?
Has this got anything to do with Winamp?
Are you talking about the st00pid AOL icon that gets installed if you don't uncheck the option during Winamp 2.77 setup?

All shortcut icons can be deleted just by hitting delete.
Some desktop icons have a delete option in the rt click properties.

All others can be removed via a program like X-Setup
Though, don't you have TweakUI Control Panel installed?

TweakUI -> Desktop tab : uncheck whichever icons you don't want.

Other ways of turning the desktop/icons off:

1) Folder Options -> View tab : hide desktop icons when viewed as webpage
Rt click desktop -> view as webpage (not recommended on slow machines, if at all)

2) Delete C:\Windows\All Users\Desktop (definitely not recommended)

As for CD Autoplay, well that's a different matter entirely.
Make sure "auto insert notification" is checked in:
System -> Device Mgr -> CD-ROM device -> properties
TweakUI can also help here.
Paranoia tab -> checkmark: autoplay CD's

Also make sure one of your Shift keys isn't accidentally stuck down ;)

And make sure "Associate with AudioCD" is checked in Winamp Prefs -> Filetypes.

More tips in the relevant sections of: TSGH -> Useful Links

don't delete the desktop folder and don't activate active desktop (useless and resource hungry)

desktop
 

answering to all questions:

1. i removed all icons from the desktop except "my computer" using tweak ui. now i want to remove "my computer" too.

2. disabling the desktop through the registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoDesktop. after that there are no icons on the desktop and it doesn't react to right or left clicks. it's just dead.

3. i don't want to view the desktop as a web-page because the wallpaper blink when the computer is started. i don't like it.

4. as for winamp - it plays cds ok, but when i insert it it doesn't play a cd at once. i have to move a mouse or press a button.

5. and i don't what to hide my computer icon making the icon blank - because it will look stupid in explorer windows...

any other ideas?

1+5: it's impossible, sorry
windows explorer and desktop use the same icon
solutions:
1. don't use the explorer file manager, use windows commander or something like that http://www.ghisler.com/
or 2. don't use the explorer shell, use http://www.litestep.net/

Although LK's suggestions are spot on, I know what I'd do in your situation:

Rt click desktop -> Arrange icons -> uncheck "auto arrange"
Then drag My Computer icon totally off the desktop somewhere. ;) :p :D