Add Quick Launch Back to Windows 7

Many Windows XP and Vista users utilized the Quick Launch toolbar by dragging short-cuts to it. This was the area directly to the right of the Start button that allowed you to launch your most used applicatons with one click. Windows 7 has removed the Quick Launch toolbar in favor of ‘pinning’ applications to the taskbar. However, you can still display the Quick Launch toolbar, although on the right side of the taskbar, by following the following steps.

Right mouse click on the taskbar and choose Toolbars, New toolbar... from the menu.

Scroll to C:\users\{your login name}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer. Highlight Quick Launch and click the Select Folder button.

You can then add items to the Quick Launch toolbar by dragging short-cuts to it. Unfortunately its usefulness is slightly diminished because it now takes two clicks, rather than one, to launch an application.

NOTE: If this does not work, check with your system administrator. It is possible that your ability to add the Quick Launch toolbar was disabled via local Group Policy.