Would you like to create a shortcut of "Computer" or of "Trash" or of "Network" on the desktop?
It’s very easy, just follow the following steps:
- Click on Alt + F2 to open the window "Run Application";
- Write gconf-editor and clik on "Run"; 
- Then, through the left panel of gconf-editor, go to apps-> nautilus-> desktop; 
This will be the result: 

Now you have just to tick the different lines: 
- computer_icon_visible: shows the shortcut to Computer; 
- home_icon_visible: shows the shortcut to the folder Home; 
- network_icon_visible: shows the shortcut to the folder Network; 
- trash_icon_visible: shows the shortcut to the folder Trash (recycle bin, for those who have Windows); 
- volumes_visible: the Ubuntu has this definition active to present the different partitions and/or discs. If you don’t want to see these shortcuts just remove the tick.
 
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