Enabling or Disabling Quick Launch in Windows 7/Windows Vista
In the current edition of Windows quick launch is disabled . It is still present and you can renenable it. This feature is trying to be replaced by jump lists, a new feature added in Windows 7.
Location of the Quick Launch Folder in Windows 7 is “C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch”
Screenshot 1: Default Windows 7 Taskbar
Screenshot 2: Windows 7 Taskbar with Quick Launch. The redesigned quick launch in windows 7 gives you the option of text, title, and small or large icons.
To Enable Quick Launch:
Step 1.) Right click on a empty space on the taskbar and click on “New Toolbar…” as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 2.) After you have selected “New Toolbar…” In the Folder line, type or copy the text directly below where “userprofile” is your Windows User Name. After you are finished click on the “Select Folder” button.
COPY THIS TEXT: %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick LaunchStep 4.) You should now see that you have a Quick Launch Toolbar similar to the one that existed in Windows XP. You can click on the arrow as shown in the below screenshot to show your Quick Launch shortcuts.
The Steps Below are not Necessary but give your Quick Launch Toolbar more functionality.
Step 5.) To Expand the Quick Launch Toolbar and give yourself options:
Step 5A.) Unlock the Taskbar (Right click on the taskbar and check “Unlock The Taskbar”/”Lock The Taskbar”
Step 5B.) Left click on the dotted lines and hold, then drag it to the left or right to adjust to unhide all of the icons. Release the left click when done as shown in the screenshot below.
Step 5C.) Lock The Taskbar ( This is not necessary unless you dont want people modifying your taskbar)
Step 6.) To Remove Quick Launch Toolbar Icon Text or Title –
Step 6A.) Unlock The Taskbar
Step 6B.) Right click on the Quick Launch toolbar title name, then uncheck the Show Text and Show Title by clicking on them. (See screenshot below Step 5B)
Step 6C.) Lock The Taskbar
Step 7.) To Have Small or Large Icons for Quick Launch Toolbar –
Step 7A.) Unlock the Taskbar
Step 7B.) Right click on the Quick Launch toolbar title name, then click on View and select to have Large Icons or Small Icons. (See screenshot below Step 5B)
Step 7C.) Lock the Taskbar
8. To Have Quick Launch Toolbar on Left Side of Taskbar –
Step 8A.) Unlock the Taskbar
Step 8B.) Left click on the dotted lines of the pinned taskbar programs of the left side and hold, then drag it to the right past the Quick Launch toolbar and release. (See screenshot below)
Step 8C.) The Quick Launch toolbar is now on the left side of the taskbar. (See screenshot below)
Step 8D.) Left click on the dotted lines of these and hold and drag them to make any adjustments to how you want them place on the taskbar. (See screenshot above)
Step 8E.) Lock the Taskbar
Step 9.) Now that you have Quick Launch on the taskbar, you will need to save your current theme (step 4 at this link).
NOTE: If you make any changes to your theme, you will need to save the theme afterwards, or you will lose Quick Launch the next time you restart the computer.
Step 10.) If you have a 32-bit Windows 7, then it has been reported that you may need to turn off UAC if Quick Launch is disappearing on you after every restart.
NOTE: This is not a problem experienced in the 64-bit Windows 7 though.
Created: 9-14-2010
Updated: 1-17-2011