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• ‹ Windows Vista Overview
• The Taskbar & Notification Area
• Overview
• Resize or move the Taskbar
• Add toolbars to the taskbar
• Add folders as taskbar toolbars
• Show or hide Quick Launch
• Show Windows Media Player
• Show iTunes in the Taskbar
• Configure Taskbar Settings
• Manage open programs
• The Notification Area ("System Tray")
• Show or hide notification icons
• The Volume (speaker) icon
• Show or hide the Volume icon
• Change the date and time
• Show or hide the system Clock
• Show the date next to the time
• Configure date and time settings
• Display military time (0-24 hours)
• Show multiple clocks / time zones
• Windows Sidebar and Gadgets ›
• Windows Vista Start Menu ›
• Printing and Printers ›
• Files, Folders & Windows Explorer ›

Show or hide Quick Launch in Windows Vista

By default, Windows Vista displays the "Quick Launch" special folder toolbar in the taskbar; Quick Launch is a nice way to get quick access to programs or web pages you commonly use, but can just end up taking up space if you take the time to customize your Start Menu and your Internet Explorer favorites (optionally accessible from the Start Menu as well). This tutorial shows you how to quickly show or hide Quick Launch icons in the taskbar in Windows Vista.

"Quick Launch" is actually just another folder in Windows Vista; the Quick Launch feature simply displays the content of that folder as clickable icons in the taskbar. Your quick launch folder is located in C:\Users\userName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch, where "userName" is your actual Windows user name.

Hide Quick Launch in Windows Vista

You can show or hide Quick Launch by customizing the taskbar options and settings, but this tutorial will show you an even simpler way. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar, and a menu will show; from this menu, click on the Toolbars sub-menu, and click on Quick Launch in the sub-menu. Quick Launch was checked; it is now unchecked, and no longer visible in the taskbar.

Show Quick Launch from the Taskbar in Windows Vista

To display Quick Launch back on the taskbar, go through the same steps: right-click on the taskbar, choose Toolbars, and click on Quick Launch again. It is now checked, and visible on the taskbar.