Add Shortcuts to Quick Launch

Recently there’s been a rash of vanishing XP “Show desktop” and Vista “Show desktop” and “Switch between windows” Quick Launch shortcuts. 

I’m not sure how so many Good Booters were able to inadvertently deport them but apparently they discovered a way to do so.

If you’ve not as yet added the Quick Launch Toolbar to your XP/Vista Toolbar, I recommend you do so. Right click on your Toolbar and click Toolbars > Quick Launch.

The advantage of placing shortcuts on your Quick Launch Toolbar is they’re readily available regardless of how many applications you have up and running. 

By default the XP Quick Launch Toolbar displays a “Show desktop” and “Internet Explorer” shortcut and the Vista Quick Launch Toolbar displays a “Show desktop”, “Internet Explorer” and “Switch between windows” shortcut. However you can add your favorite Desktop shortcuts as well as shortcuts to Programs, Folders and Files. 

To do so first place your pointer on a Desktop shortcut, a Program shortcut on your Start Menu or your All Programs menu or even on an individual File or Folder in your Documents/My Documents folder. Then holding down your left mouse button drag the shortcut, file or folder icon (which will become a shortcut) onto your Quick Launch Toolbar.

Note: Because you’re performing a Copy, the original Desktop shortcut, Program shortcut and Folder and File will remain in place.

You can arrange the Quick Launch icons by placing your pointer on a shortcut, then holding down your left mouse button dragging it to a desired location.

Shortcuts on the Quick Launch toolbar can be deleted (right click and delete) or relocated to your Desktop by placing your pointer on the shortcut, then holding down your left mouse button dragging it onto your Desktop.

Although you can easily repopulate your Quick Launch Toolbar with the shortcuts, folders and files you added, should 

your XP’s “Show desktop” or Vista’s “Show desktop” and “Switch between windows” shortcuts vanish into Cyberspace it can be a real chore to restore them.

For this reason I suggest copying your Quick Launch folder to your Documents/ My Documents folder.  

To find your Quick Launch folder go to:

* XP: C: Documents and Settings\ Name of Your Computer\ Applications and Data\ Microsoft\ Internet Explorer\  Quick Launch. 

* Vista: C:\ Start Menu\ Name of Your Computer (the top right button) \ AppData\ Roaming\ Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ Quick Launch.

Note: It’s not a typo. The Quick Launch folder is a subdirectory of an Internet Explorer folder. 

Here’s wishing you a Good Boot.