You're obviously using the desktop the way it wasn't meant to be used, the sane way of doing file management (and the way it was meant to be) is to create folders in your Documents folder (this applies for any Operating System) and put your files there, the Desktop area is the WORST place possible for placing files (unless temporarily, for two reasons, limited (visual) space, and program windows get put in front of it, blocking the view and access.
But this is my opinion (of someone who studied GUI ergonomics), I'll leave to others to help you pursue your objectives.
Last edited by a moderator: Jan 2, 2012