up vote 4 down vote favorite
2
share [g+] share [fb]

Where, in the Windows 7 file system, are the taskbar shortcuts stored (per user)?

link|improve this question
what do you call the Dock? The taskbar? I supposr the settings would be in the Registry, not on the file system. – Snark Oct 21 '09 at 20:50
feedback

1 Answer

up vote 7 down vote accepted

They're stored in: C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar.

You can also add the "Quick Launch" folder to your task bar as a toolbar to re-enable the quick launch feature.

link|improve this answer
Yes. Can anyone explain why they're in an "Internet Explorer" folder? – outsideblasts Oct 22 '09 at 16:01
1  
I think the shortcuts were originally in the IE folder in an effort to prove to the authorities that IE is inseparable from Windows shell. They probably stayed there out of inertia or compatibility concerns. – dbkk101 Oct 22 '09 at 17:18
That seems plausible, thanks! – outsideblasts Oct 22 '09 at 21:30
1  
@dbkk101: That's bogus. The QuickLaunch bar was a shell feature that came with IE (4, iirc). hence the IE team owned it, not the Shell team. Compatibility reasons left the folder structure as it is now. This has nothing to do with IE being a core part of Windows now. Remember that IE up to version 6 was still available as a stand-alone install. – Joey Oct 19 '10 at 7:45
@Joey Thanks for the more detailed background. Glad to hear the reason is not as sinister as it seems. For the record, IE 4 release brought quite a few new shell features (e.g. ActiveDesktop). Close integration of browser and Windows prompted an antitrust lawsuit in 1998. – dbkk101 Oct 20 '10 at 8:56
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.