Windows XP Toolbars

I notice a lot of people download those tool bars from Google, Yahoo, MSN etc.  Those give you a lot of neat features, however, there is a way that you can create your own customized toolbars from within Windows XP or even use some preconfigured ones.

On your task bar (usually at the bottom of your screen), if you right click and select ‘Toolbars’ you will see various choices. 

My favorite Pre-Configured ones are:

  • Address
  • Quick Launch
  • Desktop
  • New Toolbar

Address: Allows you to have a small window always on the screen where you can type in a web page address like http://www.miketartaglia.com and have it open up in a new or existing Internet Explorer window.

Quick Launch: This one is great for those applications that you use most frequently and need to open quickly without having to search for the shortcut in the start menu.  You can add applications to this simply by dragging the Shortcut from the start menu into the quick launch area.

Desktop:  All the icons that you would normally see on your desktop are now available in this toolbar.  I know what you’re thinking “Why do we need to have this toolbar when we see everything on the desktop already.”  Well, you can simple answer that question when you have multiple windows or applications open and you need access to the desktop quickly.  Of course you could minimize those windows and applciations, however, if you click on the Desktop toolbar you will have access to everything right there and without disturbing any opened windows or applications.

New Toolbar: With this tool bar option, you can create your own customized toolbar to fit your needs.  You can have it to list your files in your “My Documents” folder, or you could have it show a list of available hard drive or folders.    I use it sort of like the quick launch toolbar, but I have a ton of shortcuts to folders, apps etc. in a specific folder and I have that folder viewed from within this toolbar.  The limit is your imagination when it comes to this tool bar.

 Have fun playing with Windows XP toolbars

Posted in Tech-Tips, Windows