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I can't stand the 'show desktop' button being on the far right of the taskbar in Windows 7, is there any way to replicate the icon as it used to be on xp/vista?

Cheers...

3 Answers 3

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You can pin the Show Desktop to Taskbar fairly easily. Alternatively, you can add the Quick Launch Bar to the Taskbar. With the Quick Launch Bar, there will be a "show desktop" button visible again just like in Vista:

alt text

To get the Quick Launch Bar:

  • right-click on an open area of the taskbar, and choose Toolbars \ New Toolbar from the menu. You should probably also unlock the taskbar at this point.
  • Now paste this into the location bar of the new window: %appdata%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch as shown here:

    alt text

  • You’ll immediately notice the Quick Launch toolbar on the taskbar, but it’s all the way over on the right, so you’ll want to click on the dotted lines and then drag the toolbar all the way to the left:

    alt text

  • it’s over on the left… but now you’ll want to adjust the regular taskbar toolbar to be closer to the left, so use the dotted lines to drag it over as well:

    alt text

  • The normal Quick Launch that we’re used to doesn’t have text, so right-click on the dotted lines and uncheck Show Text as well as “Show Title” from the menu:

    alt text

  • Once you’re sure it’s the way you want it, you should check the Lock the taskbar again.

    alt text

courtesy of the How-To Geek.

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  • Great, thanks! Was a bit fiddly moving the taskbar to the left, but all working.
    – akashic
    Feb 18, 2010 at 14:53
  • Your first answer was fine, having quick launch back is great!
    – akashic
    Feb 18, 2010 at 14:55
  • Ok, I'll revert :)
    – user1931
    Feb 18, 2010 at 15:04
  • Nice answer. It had always bugged me, but never enough to do anything about it. That gets a +1 from me.
    – Joe Taylor
    Feb 18, 2010 at 16:16
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You can also use the hot key: Windows-D

Faster than a mouse click :)

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a ready to use xp/vista button is at Softpedia

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