How to Restore the Show Desktop Icon in Quicklaunch in Windows XP

Being able to quickly access your desktop in Windows XP means increased productivity.

The "Show Desktop" icon, generally located in the Quick Launch bar in Windows XP, can increase productivity by allowing you to quickly access your desktop, even when you have multiple windows open. Unfortunately, there is no simple setting to replace this icon if something happens to it. The Quick Launch bar utilizes a folder located in %userprofile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch within Windows system files, but you can recreate your icon without needing to access this folder.

Instructions

1. Click the "Start" button in the lower left hand corner of your screen. This will open your Start Menu.

2. Click "Run" in the right hand column. Type "notepad" in the text field and press "Enter" on your keyboard. This will open Notepad.

3. Type the following text exactly as it appears into Notepad:

   [Shell]

   Command=2

   IconFile=explorer.exe,3

   [Taskbar]

   Command=ToggleDesktop

4. Click "File" in the top menu bar and select "Save As..." to save the document. Title your document "Show desktop.scf"

5. Select "Desktop" from the left hand menu and click "Save" in the bottom right of the Save window. This will create an icon on your desktop.

6. Drag the "Show Desktop" icon to your Quick Launch bar.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also set a desktop pop-up menu by right clicking in the task bar and selecting "Desktop" from the options. This will allow you to access desktop items without the need for collapsing any open windows.

• You can also use Guided Help from Windows to fix this issue. It is available at the Windows Support website.

References

• Windows Support: How to re-create the Show desktop icon on the Quick Launch toolbar in Windows XP