How To: Pull a Quick Computer Prank!

Here's a quick, simple prank to pull on anyone in under 2 minutes.  It works especially great for someone who has tons of icons on their desktop!  It makes the computer look the same, but nothing on the desktop works!

Here's how it goes...

You're target leaves their desk for a few minutes, and you leap to action...

Step 1 Immediately Press the Print Screen button

This button will make a picture copy of whatever is on the screen, Icons, start menu, running programs, etc. except for the mouse cursor.

Step 2 Open Paint

Quickly open Microsoft's Paint program. Go to START>ALL PROGRAMS>ACCESSORIES>PAINT.

Step 3 Paste the copied picture and save

Paste the copied picture from step 1 into the Paint area (press CTRL+V), then save the picture (press CTRL+S).  Save it somewhere easy to find.  Close paint.

Step 4 Set the picture as the background

Minimize everything (press WINDOWS+D), right click on the background and select "Properties."  When the Properties box opens, select the "Desktop" tab and change the background to the picture you just saved.  Press OK.

Step 5 Remove all the real icons from the desktop

Right click on the desktop and go to the "Arrange Icons By" menu, un-check the option to "Show Desktop Icons"

This hides all of the real icons on the screen and all you are left with is the picture in the background.  The user will not know this and assume that nothing on their screen works!

Step 6 Get out of Dodge!

Get out of there and watch as your target tries to click on things and gets frustrated at them not working.  They can even restart the computer, and they will still have the same problems...it's hilarious!

Tips

• These instructions are based on a Windows XP computer.  It's possible on other Windows computers with a similar process.  The shortcut keys are the same but the commands may be in different places or named differently.