That's what I was thinking, guess I could start using icons on the desktop...The thing is, if I'm actually using the computer I never see the desktop.
What I do is put the icons on the desktop that I want, then enable the "Desktop" toolbar. It creates a drop down menu of all your desktop icons. Much more space efficient and useful. Give it a try.
when you first make it, it will be on the right and won't look very good. If you drag it to the left it will snap beside the start button, then you shrink it up and it looks good. Here is a picture of my desktop....