"Show Desktop" is a shortcut which is present in Quick Launch toolbar in Windows taskbar. Once you click on its icon, it minimizes all running programs to taskbar so that you can view the Desktop.
Since Microsoft integrated the Quick Launch toolbar in taskbar in Windows 7, you'll no longer see the old "Show Desktop" icon. But that doesn't mean it has been removed in Windows 7.
Actually the location and look of "Show Desktop" has changed in Windows 7. Now its located at the end of taskbar in form of a small rectangle.
It does 2 jobs now:
1. When you move your mouse cursor over it, it hides all running programs windows and shows only windows outlines so that you can peek behind all open windows . Its called "Aero Peek" feature.
2. When you click on it, it does the same job as the old shortcut used to do. It minimizes all open windows and restores them if you click again.
PS: If you want to disable "Aero Peek" feature so that it doesn't hide open windows when you hover the mouse cursor over it, then you can do it by disabling "Use Desktop Preview" option in Taskbar Properties:
NOTE: You can access "Show Desktop" option by right-clicking on Taskbar. Its present there. Also you can use "WIN+D" key combination.
This article was posted in Windows 7.
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Tim Brazer
Plus, if you turn on one of the Ease of Access themes, you will see the icon where the "Show Desktop" button is now in Windows 7.
It's not movable so I think this is an unfinished aspect of the Ease of access themes, which are horrid looking by the way.
Great Post!
goldi
Hi VG
I found a bug in windows 7. the bug is create a folder with name such as "vishal gupta" in any local drive. then rename this folder as "Vishal Gupta" u found that it remains unchanged untill u refresh.............
RoninMastaFX
I wonder if someone can make a hack with the Aero Peek and a Windows 7 theme, so that the Aero peek can be used with that rectangle, as well as a setting in the taskbar...but iirc, that would probably require explorer.exe hacking (and a few more files)...just a thought though.
RoninMastaFX
I forgot to clarify that the above is for Windows Vista...my bad. xD
Doug
I Hate hate hate that the show desktop button is in that corner.
Do this exercise with me: Without pickup up your arm, move your mouse to the bottom right corner. Move the mouse all the way to the right, then pull it down. Ive had friends all say this makes their hand feel cramped. Mine too. It's so uncomfortable I rather alt-tab to a small window and shake to access my desktop.
I hope that soon we are able to move it around the taskbar so it doesnt have to be in that corner...
Jon
It's even more difficult when you have a dual monitor setup and can't rely on the right boundary when clicking on it
I got fed up with it to the point of abandoning it altogether and stuck the show desktop button in a toolbar back on the left where it should be.
Lynda
Who's brilliant idea was it to *lock* the stupid thing over there on the wrong side?
me
windows 7 ultimate works fine , because is an windows xp sp2 6.1 , 7600 with vista themes
if you don't believe...
check gpedit.msc (this will not work in any vista version)
and see dxdiag command too
microsoft roolez !!!!!!! activators roolez!!!!
andy
Jon:
"I got fed up with it to the point of abandoning it altogether and stuck the show desktop button in a toolbar back on the left where it should be."
Can I ask how you do this?
Thanks
Anne
I agree,the idea is definitely "genius". It is very easy for left handed people to access the new location, but if you're right handed it is somewhat inconvinient.