Windows 7: Articles

Anyone who is familiar with Windows XP and Vista is probably also used to using the Quick Launch Bar, a very handy feature to have around. Windows 7 however, does not initially include the Quick Launch tool, but there is an easy way for you to add it and you can continue to work the way you were accustomed to doing on your old Windows version.

Windows 7 does actually permit you to dock many different items into the taskbar, but adding it requires several steps that are not normally used.

Adding the Quick Launch Bar In Your Windows 7 Taskbar

To place the Quick Launch toolbar back in your Windows toolbar, place your mouse on an open area of the taskbar and do a right-click, then select Toolbars > New Toolbar from the menu that appears. It will also be a good idea to unlock the taskbar before you proceed.



At this point, the steps get slightly trickier. In the location bar of the New Toolbar – choose a folder window, then paste the following path into it:

“%appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch”



You need to make sure that the locations bar includes the full path just like in the next screenshot before you click on the “Select Folder” button at the bottom of the window.



If you look at the taskbar, you will notice that the Quick Launch toolbar has been added, but it has been positioned on the far right of the taskbar. If you want to bring it to the left side, you need to click on the dotted lines that you see on the taskbar and drag it as far as you can to the left side. Note that this can only be accomplished if you have unlocked the taskbar.



Now that the Quick Launch icon is on the left side of the taskbar, you might want to adjust the regular taskbar so that this too is pulled to the left. Again, click the dotted lines next to the taskbar and drag it to closer to the left. It’s often preferable to place items on the left side of the taskbar to give room to open items that Windows will dynamically add when you run programs.



If you are used to the normal Quick Launch icon rather than the text, and you would prefer to revert back to this, it is possible to switch back to the icon. Right-click on the dotted lines and then uncheck the “Show Text” and the “Show Title” options from the menu that appears.



You have just successfully returned the classic Quick Launch icon to the taskbar. Before we finished, you might want to lock the taskbar again, if you prefer it this way.



Note that the screenshots shown here were taken after the Windows 7 taskbar was changed back to the old XP/Vista mode. You may also find that this helps you to increase your productivity further if this is what you are used to doing.