the desktop button on the left task bar

Reality|Bites · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:39

In windows XP you had a little button that would minimise all windows to the taskbar, Now in windows 7 you have to right click on the task bar and select show desktop, Is there a way to get the little button back?

K1LLSW1TCH · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:46

Create a new shortcut that points to the desktop I'd imagine, just the same as you could do in Vista, although I've never tried myself because I'm a Mac user but when I do boot up Win7 I just tend to use the bottom right corner to show desktop. You can also use the Windows key + D shortcut.

After a quick Google there's something here too: Click Me

KPeh · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:47

The bit furthest right on the taskbar will show the desktop...

alex24 · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:50

Click the very bottom right hand corner and see what happens.

Archibald0 · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:52

I installed this little Icon
http://www.blogsdna.com/5097/how-to-pin-show-desktop-option-to-windows-7-taskbar.htm

Just pin it to taskbar and BAM you have the same show desktop way as the windows of olde

Reality|Bites · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:53

ah thank you

another question

How do I stop my hdds spinning down avery 5 mins? I've looked in power options and found nothing.

Ross1234 · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:53

Whats the point?

Look there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and then down

and there is a rectangle.

CLICK IT

Phatjayunoi · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:54

Reality|Bites said:
In windows XP you had a little button that would minimise all windows to the taskbar, Now in windows 7 you have to right click on the task bar and select show desktop, Is there a way to get the little button back?

The Show Desktop button has moved to the bottom right of the screen where the System Tray is, just next to the Date/Time.

It is some getting used to, but it works much better than the older style especially when you can mouse hover over it or right-click on it to peek or show.

EDIT - Meh too late.

Archibald0 · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:55

Ross1234 said:
Whats the point?

Look there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and then down

and there is a rectangle.

CLICK IT

Not quite that simple
After years of having the show desktop on the bottom left corner of taskbar, anything different doesnt feel right

robnut · 30 Oct 2009 at 00:59

Windows key + D works too.

K1LLSW1TCH · 30 Oct 2009 at 01:05

robnut said:
Windows key + D works too.

Beat you to it!

Ross1234 · 30 Oct 2009 at 01:08

I tend to just alt tab to the desktop.

Fegruson · 30 Oct 2009 at 14:26

Reality|Bites said:
ah thank you

another question

How do I stop my hdds spinning down avery 5 mins? I've looked in power options and found nothing.

It is in the power options, you just need to go advanced

Hard Disk > Turn off hard disk after > Setting: Never

http://www.vistualise.com/pwropt-plansett-adv.php

Broken Hope · 30 Oct 2009 at 17:32

Reality|Bites said:
How do I stop my hdds spinning down avery 5 mins? I've looked in power options and found nothing.

Set the spin down time to 0, which Windows will then set to never.

C64 · 30 Oct 2009 at 21:54

use the guide to add vista / xp style quick launch it's basically clicking to the left of the clock add new toolbar quick launch deselecting text etc on it then dragging it all the way to the left.
Here's mine complete with show desktop icon etc plenty of guides out there just google old style quick launch on win7

Teki187 · 31 Oct 2009 at 08:34

Microsoft implement a new design attempt and everyone just ignores it.

No wonder O/S advancement is so bloody slow.

Reality|Bites · 31 Oct 2009 at 08:39

So what are people doing with windows 7 on a day to day basis that they couldn't do with windows XP?

I for one don't see the point, It's like going from a 4:3 TV to a widescreen TV, It's different but is it better?

I'm still doing the same things as I did on XP, It's just the menu systems are different and mixed up.

PhillyDee · 31 Oct 2009 at 08:45

Teki187 said:
Microsoft implement a new design attempt and everyone just ignores it.

No wonder O/S advancement is so bloody slow.

To be fair, I dont particularly like the new bar system. To maximise a window I have to click twice now. Instead of just once. Doesnt seem like much, but it does affect my productivity.

Reality|Bites said:
So what are people doing with windows 7 on a day to day basis that they couldn't do with windows XP?

I for one don't see the point, It's like going from a 4:3 TV to a widescreen TV, It's different but is it better?

I'm still doing the same things as I did on XP, It's just the menu systems are different and mixed up.

Except it does it differently, and it does it faster. Why run an ageing OS on a new PC? Might as well go back to Win98 since that does exactly what XP does.

unwashed potato! · 31 Oct 2009 at 09:57

Reality|Bites said:
So what are people doing with windows 7 on a day to day basis that they couldn't do with windows XP?

I for one don't see the point, It's like going from a 4:3 TV to a widescreen TV, It's different but is it better?

I'm still doing the same things as I did on XP, It's just the menu systems are different and mixed up.

there is a few new features which i use all the time like the snapping to the side of the screen, drag the window around and it'll jump from full screen to whatever size of was before back to full screen on another screen in one mouse click, the new moving files system is much better with more information and it shown in taskbar so you can do something else and not have to keep checking.

plus it's supposed to be much much safer then xp, i can't wait for my dad to get a new pc with win7 on it so I can rest knowing that next time i see him i wont have to spend a while fixing his pc again.

one thing i'm annoyed with windows about is the fact they haven't done anything extra for multiple screen support, i still can only have 1 taskbar, 1 desktop background on both screens gets boring, and no options about where programs open by default, i'm sure they would have heard of ultramon and seen the ideas from that.

another is although it's great to move the taskbar to places like the side of the screen, it's crap as i like my start button to be at the bottom and programs to open from the bottom, but still you can only have it from top going down afaik. :mad:

Broken Hope · 31 Oct 2009 at 12:18

Reality|Bites said:
So what are people doing with windows 7 on a day to day basis that they couldn't do with windows XP?

I'm still doing the same things as I did on XP, It's just the menu systems are different and mixed up.

Surely the same could be said about pretty much any OS when it comes to doing normal stuff on a day to day basis, e.g web browsing, watching videos, playing games?