If you are using Windows 7, you might be wondering where are the good ol' "Show Desktop" shortcut and "Quick Launch" toolbar in Taskbar?
Actually "Show Desktop" shortcut has been moved to extreme end of Windows 7 Taskbar in form of a small rectangle and Microsoft has disabled "Quick Launch" toolbar intentionally because the same functionality is provided using the new PIN feature in Windows 7.
But you can enable "Quick Launch" toolbar back in Windows 7 and it'll also contain the good old "Show Desktop" shortcut using following simple steps:
1. Right-click on Taskbar and select "Toolbars -> New toolbar...".
2. It'll open Browse dialog box. Now paste following string in the "Folder:" text box:
%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
Press Enter and click on "Select folder" button.
3. It'll immediately add Quick Launch toolbar to Taskbar.
4. Now right-click on Taskbar and uncheck "Lock the taskbar" option.
5. You'll see a placeholder to drag the Quick Launch toolbar.
6. Right-click on the toolbar placeholder and uncheck "Show Title" and "Show Text" options.
7. If you want to increase the icon size, right-click on the toolbar placeholder and enable "View -> Large Icons" option.
8. Drag-n-drop this toolbar to the left of Taskbar.
9. That's it. Now you have the good ol' "Quick Launch" toolbar and "Show Desktop" shortcut back in Windows 7 Taskbar.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7.
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Ashish Moonat
Hey Vishal,
I was able to get the quick launch taskbar. but it doesnt go to extreme left because although I deleted the pinned items the space next to the start button still remains. any sugegstions. Thanks
Uewd
What is the difference between Pinning to taskbar and the quick launch?
VG
^^ No major difference. Quick Launch was replaced with Pin feature in Windows 7.
Uewd
When I restart windows, the quick launch will disappear. How can I fix this?
sozee
there is no way you can fix this problem by doing all the above-mentioned tricks if you are on a windows 7 32-bit OS. Its kinda bud in windows 7 and Server 2008. I have personally tested all the tricks mentioned here and on many other websites, applied the changes, saved the theme without any luck. Every restart my cute Quick Launch toolbar disappeared. Then comes the guys who responsible for that "Microsoft Techies" and let me know the reason. Read this
You configure a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to automatically log on when you start the computer. When you restart the computer, any customizations that you made to the Taskbar are lost and the Taskbar is reset to its default settings.
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.
For further reading about this go to support.microsoft.com/kb/979155
To download this hotfix go here support.microsoft.com/hotfix/KBHotfix.aspx?kbnum=979155&kbln=en-us
Tested works 100 % on windows 7 32-bit OS. Good Luck
ANTI BILL GATES STUPIDITY
YEAH! Quick Launch is the best! Pin and Jump File new system from Windows 7 is just plain stupid! It doesn't work at all... Quick Launch rocks the bottom!
Every day that passes, Bill Gates gets more stupid.... Why they destroyed Quick Launch in the first place? Their BETA Testers are just useless...
Frolix
"8. Drag-n-drop this toolbar to the left of Taskbar. That's it!"
Nope. Will not drag-n-drop to the left side of the Taskbar. All I can do is get a lateral double >> on the right that will open a vertical QuickLaunch menu. Also, where'd you get that older blue "Show Desktop" icon in Step 9. It sure doesn't show up in my Windows 7. All I've got is the grey one (and boy, do I wish I could find a way to easily change these icons and colors!)
aksamo
thank you.very nice
JonB
Thanks for the info! It's great to have QuickLaunch back!
sum1
"8. Drag-n-drop this toolbar to the left of Taskbar. That's it!"
"Nope. Will not drag-n-drop to the left side of the Taskbar. "
You have to revert to windows theme "Windows 7 Basic" in order to move the toolbar to the left side. You cannot do it in Windows Classic. You can switch back to classic once you have moved it and it will stay.
Thanks for this article Vishal, don't know why they had to fix something that wasn't broken then try to stop us from changing it back. Much better this way!