One of the biggest criticisms of Windows 7, especially from myself, has been the inability to pin icons like the control panel, computer and recycle bin to the new taskbar.  This meant that Windows 7 was a nasty half-way house between what Microsoft want Windows to become long-term and the old Windows XP way of doing things.

Last week HappyAndyK came to the rescue on the WinVistaClub forum with instructions on how to add the quick launch toolbar back into Windows 7.  Onto this you can drag and drop all the remaining icons from the desktop and Start Menu (recycle bin, games, control panel, devices and printers, computer) and I also added search and libraries links.

It all looked a bit messy though with system icons mixed in the same dock with search and organise icons.  I was wondering if it was possible to split the quick launch area.  I was delighted to discover this is actually quite simple to do.  The results can be seen on the screen-grab below (click to view it full-size).

Open an explorer window and navigate to…

 %userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

You’ll probably need to change the view options so if you do, in the same explorer window press the Alt button on your keyboard and in the View menu temporarily change the settings for Show hidden files… and Hide Protected Operating System files.

In this folder create yourself a new folder that I’ve called System Launch.  You’ll need to change the security priveliges on this folder so right click on it and select Properties.  Then navigate to the Security tab on the window that appears and you’ll see the Everyone user group selected.  Press the Edit button and give this user group full-control.  Press Apply then OK.

Now click anywhere in a blank space on the taskbar and select Toolbars and New Toolbar.  In the window that appears navigate to…

%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

…if it doesn’t automatically go there.  Select your System Launch folder and press the Select Folder button.

Once this new toolbar appears you can unlock the taskbar and drag it to where you want and drag and drop any icons you want in it.  You can also right click in it and untick the options Show Text and Show Title and change the icon size from small to large.  Note these options won’t appear if the taskbar is locked.

With these options now available on the taskbar there really is no further need for the Start Menu other than to find rarely used programs and to switch the computer off.  This is the type of feature that Microsoft should make much easier and simpler to implement.  This system only really works on bigger screens but is certainly the way I’ll be using Windows 7 from now on.