Get the Show desktop icon back in Windows 7 taskbar.

November 8th, 2009 . Filed under: Tips. Tags: ,

While you have Show desktop transparent vertical bar at the right side end of the taskbar which also adds the functionality of Desktop Peek, it appears that there are some who miss the old Show desktop icon which appeared on the left side of the taskbar.

To get it back, simply follow these steps in the order mentioned:

1. Copy-paste the following in a Notepad and save it as Show desktop.scf on your desktop.

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

showdesktop1

2. Assuming that your Windows 7 is installed on C Drive, cut-paste this Show desktop.scf file in folder:
C:\User\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\Taskbar. To open this folder, simply copy paste this address in the explorer address bar and hit Enter.

3. Now create any temporary shortcut of  anyone of your other (.exe) applications on your desktop. Rename it to Show Desktop.

Next, right click on it and select Change icon.
Select the Show Desktop icon from the following folder :
C:\Windows\System32\imageres.dll
Click Apply > OK.
NOW right click and Pin to Taskbar.

4. Now again right click on this temporary desktop icon and select its Properties.

5. In the Shortcut tab, change its Target to:

C:\Users\%Username%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Show desktop.scf

show desktop windows 7 taskbar

You will now get the Show desktop icon in the Windows 7 in the location it should be and it will look & behave the way it should look & behave! Drag and drop it to the desired position.

Alternatively, you may also want to check out these freeware (1) Show Desktop Button for Windows 7 that will enable the same feature in Windows 7 and allows you to pin it to the taskbar (2) Show desktop software will minimize all open windows to display the desktop.


Bookmark and Share

Related posts:

Recent posts:
  • Prevent Repetitive Strain Injury & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Workrave
  • Tweak Taskbar Button & Thumbnail sizes with W7 Taskbar Tweaker
  • How to remove prerequisites required to run Virtual PC & XP mode
  • Windows Phone 7 Series UI Design & Interaction Guide
  • Google’s own SEO Report Card

    • Popular posts:
    Topics: Tips| 10 Comments »

    Comments

    By Martin on November 9th, 2009 at 4:15 AM

    I wonder why Microsoft doesn’t set all of these shortcuts by default….

    By Rychlouš on November 11th, 2009 at 3:22 AM

    Cooool. Thanks !!!

    By Junkie on November 13th, 2009 at 6:22 AM

    Thats cool. Didnt know it would be possible. Need to try login screen change as well!

    By Roland D. Russell on November 25th, 2009 at 5:17 PM

    Microsoft needs to serve their PC customers, not the other way around.
    A customer buying an operating system update has already customized
    his machine to suit himself. The desktop appearance, font size, security
    choices, icons, internet provider and his other personal changes should
    be incorporated in his new machine as part of the new installation program.

    That software information is right there in the machine anyway, so use it! I hate the idea of rebuilding my laptop just because I updated to Windows 7!

    By Richard on November 28th, 2009 at 6:58 AM

    The quick launch tool bar is already in Windows 7. The process that is described is not really necessary to add the desktop icon.

    By Cyclopsq on November 28th, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    Tnx! It realy helped! Hate that Windows puts the show desktop icon to the right!!!

    By mckinnley on December 13th, 2009 at 11:48 AM

    what a pointless thing to do, that’s already in windows 7 by default, it’s the little box on the very bottom right corner.

    By mike on December 14th, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    seems like a lot of work when you could just press the windows key and D together.

     

    Leave a Comment