# Questions about WinXP **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 16, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186 "2002-08-16T14:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/1 "2002-08-16T14:22:59Z")
My new computer came with this monstrosity. I’m really missing a couple features. Can anyone tell me how to get these back: 1 - the little button next to the start menu that minimizes all windows and shows the desktop. I can do this by right clicking on the task bar and choosing ‘Show the Desktop’, but this is not nearly as convenient as the button was. 2 - the Documents menu. I want to be able to see a list of documents I’ve been working on and click on one o’ them to start up Word, Excel, etc. Where’d it go? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/2 "2002-08-16T14:27:40Z")
The Documents menu should be there – if not right-click on the start menu and click ‘Customise’ (or it may be ‘Properties’; I’m not at a WinXP PC right now). Within that should be the option to display the Documents menu. You can create a program to show the desktop as follows: > [@](#): > > 1 . Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to create a file containing the following lines: > > [Shell] Command=2 IconFile=explorer.exe,3 [Taskbar] > > Command=ToggleDesktop > > 1. Save the new file as Show Desktop.scf in the computer’s Windows\System folder. Warning: Notepad may automatically append a .txt extension to the file name. If it does, edit the file name to remove this extension. These steps do not work if the file is named Show Desktop. scf.txt. > > 2. Quit Notepad. > > 3. Using Windows Explorer or My Computer, right-click the Show Desktop.scf file, and then click Create Shortcut. > > 4. Copy the new shortcut to the appropriate folder. > > 5. Rename the shortcut to Show Desktop. > > The Show Desktop icon should now be back on your Quick Launch toolbar. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/3 "2002-08-16T16:54:32Z")
Quick Launch is off by default in Win XP, once it is turned on drag the show desktop button to the quick launch bar, although I think mine was already on there, once I turned the Quick Launch bar on. Recent Documents - Right click on the start button, choose ‘properties’. It should be on the Start Menu tab, choose ‘customize’. Click on the ‘advanced’ tab and on the bottom is a ‘Recent Documents’ listing. There is a check box that when checked adds the ‘Recent Documents’ to the start menu. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/4 "2002-08-16T18:42:42Z")
The stupid thing about the Quick Launch bar in XP is you can’t adjust its size. Can’t make it bigger if there are more than 3 icons in it. At least I haven’t figure out how. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2002, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/5 "2002-08-16T18:46:55Z")
Mine has seven icons. Is yours locked down? (right-click on the taskbar and click **Lock the taskbar** - if it’s locked it’ll unlock and allow you to resize the bar). ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/6 "2002-08-17T13:31:17Z")
Yay! I knew you guys would help! I now have my documents menu and my Quick Launch bar! ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/7 "2002-08-17T13:55:40Z")
Crusoe, Thanks, will try it. ---
**Author:** ![jbird3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jbird3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbird3000)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/8 "2002-08-17T21:05:06Z")
(Windows button)+D will also show you the desktop. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/9 "2002-08-18T00:17:10Z")
I’ve always used Win+M to **M** inimize all windows… I guess it’s the same as Win+D. Also, Win+L will **L** ock your session and take you back to the welcome screen (same as Start | Log off | Switch user). ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/10 "2002-08-18T03:44:32Z")
OOoooOOOohh, Windows button+D… very nice! Any other nifty tricks I need to know? ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-winxp/124186/11 "2002-08-18T06:15:20Z")
The difference between Win+M and Win+D is that Win+D is togglable… if you hit it again, all the windows come back. Other handies: Win+E = explorer, Win+R = Run…