I recently found that the Portable Apps Platform no longer has a selector to show/hide the desktop icons, with the only way to actually performing the feat in PA was to mofify the ini.
I came across this small FREEWARE app that according to the site can be used portably. The program has some other options availialable to it. eg. auto show/hide icons with a click of the mouse. auto start on windows start, start minimized etc.
Named: AutoHideDesktopIcons
http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Microsoft/AutoHideDesktopIcons
By their definition: designed to run independently from an operating system and does not leave any traces on the computer on which it is run
The software is also available on The Portable Freeware site and is listed as being stealth. Though that does not necessarily mean it is untracable
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=2106&ts=1323801676
I would like to request that investigations be made as to whether the company would consider allowing the app to become part of the portatble apps collection.