[Sebastian42]

I edited the Internet Explorer 'icon' pinned to the TaskBar, so that I could change its target to some other program which lacks a 'pin to the TaskBar option'. That succeeded. I can now launch the other program from the 'converted' I.E. icon. However, something went wrong, in that the icon remnant still has the name Internet Explorer attached to it, and lacks a Context Menu through whose Properties I might set things right, including changing the image (and name) of the icon. I want to either be rid of it and start again; or fix it up. Any ideas ?

[Sebastian42]

The scenario has changed. Unbeknowns to me, the unwanted icon disappeared when the PC shut down i.e. it was not there on reboot. It may be relevant here to say that the program that I want to pin to the TaskBar is a DOS program. Its context menu DOES have a 'pin to TaskBar' option; but when I click that, I see nothing new in the TaskBar. Also, dragging the program to the TaskBar triggers a 'square balloon' that says 'Pin to TaskBar', but the TaskBar does NOT look more populated afterwards. It is obviously a DOS Program issue, and my original question needs no answer. But I'd love an answer to the new question. How to make the icon for a DOS program visible when it's pinned to the TaskBar ?

[wladicus]

Greetings Sebastian,
I do not have Windows 7, just Vista - but maybe the procedure is similar in Windows 7 and perhaps you will recognize it as soon as I start to describe it. I wrote a little test batch file called test.bat, then created a shortcut for it and placed it in the quick launch directory. Next, I did the following steps to make it appear on the task bar.
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1. Right click anywhere on the task bar and uncheck the "Lock the Taskbar" item.
(This permits you to adjust the display space for quick launch items on the task bar).
2. You will see vertical textured blocks/or bars bracketing the display area where quick launch items can be displayed.
3. With the mouse (hold down the left button) drag the right block/bar to the right until you see your quick launch shortcut appear in the task bar.
4. Right click on task bar again and check "Lock the Taskbar" to hold your allocated space on the task bar.
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Now you should see the shortcut for your program on the task bar. If you do not then you may have to click on the quick launch button on your task bar and move the desired shortcut item to the top of the list so that it will appear first on the task bar.
When the item is visible in the task bar you can click on it to launch the program. I did this successfully with my test batch program (which is a DOS file) and it ran with no problems.

Anyhow, that is the way it can be done in Vista. Windows 7 may be totally different, but I if we're lucky it may be similar at least.

Cheers,

[Sebastian42]

There is no option for QuickLaunch where i expect it, (although I know there is a weird form of QuickLaunch in Win7), so no progress

[wladicus]

Ahoy Sebastian,
Here is how to add the "QUICK LAUNCH" toolbar to Windows7 -> How-To Geek . I hope this resolves your problem.
Cheers

[Sebastian42]

"I hope this resolves your problem." It sure did ! Whatever bad memories I had of Win7's QuickLaunch did not seem to materialise this time, so I have abandoned 'pinning to the task bar' in favour of the good old QuickLaunch bar. Just hoping that I can enhance that further with the Free Launch Bar, as I could in WinXP.