"Desktop Tutorials"

About the Desktop Taskbar and Start Menu

This is a tutorial about the desktop taskbar (toolbar).

System Tray usually on the right side of the toolbar- programs that open with windows startup. To remove startup programs from the system tray, click on Start/Run then type "msconfig", then click on Startup and deselect the program.

Quick Launch area - to open the Quick Launch toolbar, right click an open area on the main toolbar and select Toolbars/Quick Launch. Typically programs that want to be launched often. Some programs put themselves there automatically. right clicking on these icons will allow you to delete the shortcut. You can drag an icon (program shortcut) to the Quick Launch taskbar. Icons in the Quick Launch only need one mouse click to open.

I keep my browser, email program, notepad and a special shortcut to windows explorer in my Quick Launch area.

Start/ All Programs area - the items there can be alphabetized by right clicking on any item and selecting "sort by name" you will see two types of items sorted by name. Look at the icons and you will see folder with items on top of it. These are the folders that open up with several options inside. The other icons are program icons and don't have more options.

If you right click on the Start button and select Properties, you will see that you can select the older style (Classic) menu. Personally, i wouldn't. If you choose the Custom button, you can select how many programs are listed on the Left side of the start menu and the option to select large or small icons is available. Also, if you then click on the Advanced button, you can select many more options. I left my options as is.

A quick way to open Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) to a folder of your choosing. Create a shortcut (right click on desktop select New/shortcut) Type the location of the item as: %windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,c:\folder of your choice Type a name for the shortcut such as Windows Explorer