"Quick Launch" toolbar is a very essential feature in Windows and almost all Windows users use it to put their favorite applications shortcuts in taskbar to access them quickly and easily.
But people who have started using Windows 7 are wondering where is the "Quick Launch" toolbar in Windows 7? They can't find it in Taskbar context menu:
So has Microsoft removed it in Windows 7? The answer is NO. Microsoft has not removed it but has integrated it tightly in taskbar. In fact they have made it quite easier than before.
Quick Launch toolbar has become Pinned Item in Windows 7. So if you want to add an application or any other thing in taskbar for easier access, then simply right-click on its shortcut and select "Pin to Taskbar":
It'll immediately add its shortcut in taskbar which will work same as quick launch toolbar. You can see in following screenshot, 4 items have been pinned to taskbar which looks like same as quick launch toolbar:
If you want to remove any pinned item from taskbar, simply right-click on it and select "Unpin this program from taskbar":
So Quick Launch toolbar is still there but the name and look has changed which is better and easier IMO.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7.
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Dwight Stegall
I just don't understand why they would remove the best part of the taskbar? What brainiac thought that one up?
Nikolaj
What does IMO mean?
M Collier
Nik, IMO means In My Opinion.
I want my 'Show Desktop' icon back! Surely they will do something to replace it or, in the absence of that, somebody will hack one.
Did you know you can shake your current window and the others minimize? That's cool!
Chad
The new "Pinned Item" is not better than quick launch, It is a poor replacement, they should offer both. Also gone is the Windows Media controls when it is minimized. For example if I have Firefox pinned and want to open a 2nd window clicking on the Firefox icon just minimizes the window. To open a 2nd browser I have to go through the file menus or use a keyboard shortcut. The show desktop button is now on the taskbar to the right of the clock, so it is kind of far out of the way.
The new pinned items seems like a poor ripoff of OSX's dock (which I don't really like) only not done as well.
Pardaillan32
I agree with Chad on this one. Also...you can't really pin anything you want on the Taskbar ( it won't work for everything) and then, after pinning... where the heck do you find the list with pinned items?
Eamon
@M Collier: The show desktop button is now located in the lower right corner of your screen. You don't even need to click it; just hovering over it let's you peek at the desktop.
m collier
IJ, thanks, but Eamon addressed my issue. Since my computer, as well as most newer monitors, are wide aspect, I've moved the taskbar to the left side and google taskbar on the right. Works great! The more I work with W7, the more I like it.
Uewd
If you want to know what happened to the quick launch toolbar, search for "What happened" (Without quotes) in start menu searchbox.