how can i clean my desktop without messing up my files?

Answer 1

Almost everything on the background desktop is shortcut, not the actual programs. Feel free to erase what ever you want on there!

Answer 2

By Desk top do you mean your computer or Desk top where program icons are located?

If you mean computer then, clean History/Cookies etc. Clean Trash Bin, Use De-fragment and disk clean. Then use Ad ware and Anti virus software.

Or where Icons are located(Desktop) then I think you might have a lot of icons, on an empty space click Right and you will see a menu you can arrange Icons by following menu.
There is also one possibility just leave those icons you use often and make a folder for icons and put rest inside when you need them open and use.

I think this answer will be enough for you

[e-mail]

Answer 3

Here is some things you should do on a regular basis to clean up and
Speed up your computer. In Internet Explorer, go to “Tools”, Internet Options, and click on “Delete Files”. These are temporary files that just take up space on your computer.
Download and run “Ad-aware” and “Spybot” . These are Anti-spyware programs. Spyware will slow down your computer. See links below.

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

http://www-spybot.net/

Free virus scan:
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/