Windows

Restore Your Show Desktop Icon

Posted by on Oct 6, 2004 | 50 Comments

I recently wrote a Windows tip about using the Show Desktop icon in the quick launch bar. Shortly after, a few readers responded that they no longer had the Show Desktop icon in the quick launch bar. Since this is such a handy little icon to use when you have multiple windows open, you may want to restore it if it has been accidentally (or intentionally) deleted. Rest assured, the process is rather simple and here is what you have to do.

1. Click Start, point to All Programs, Accessories, and click Note pad.
2. Type in the following:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

3. Save the new file as Show Desktop.scf in the Windows\System32 directory.
4. Open Windows Explorer.
5. Browse to the Windows\System32 directory and locate the Show Desktop icon.
6. Click the icon and drag it onto the quick launch bar.

The Show Desktop icon should now be available again on the quick launch bar.

  • nutman2

    need to find out how to get exe file sndvol32.exe . is wiped out , have no windows xp disk ,xp was installed help maybe thanks

  • http://queston nutman2

    lost exe file sndvol32.exe can u help get

  • http://queston nutman2

    need exe file sndvol32.exe help?

  • Hdeel

    You are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Terry Hsu

    I also need the file sndvol32.exe but do not have a CD-ROM on my pc…..pls send it to me! Thanks

  • Capo

    Hey does anyone know if this works for Vista aswell? Cheers

  • Desi

    Capo, it DOES work in Vista. However, it restores it with the Windows XP icon for Show Desktop instead of the Vista version. When I first bought Vista I would have liked that because the icon being different annoyed me, lol. But now that I’m used to the Vista icon I want THAT instead.

    Anyone know where that icon is located?

  • Desi

    Nevermind, I found it. Duh.

  • rajiv

    this is nice,
    it works
    i like that i hv learned a new thing

  • Krystal

    Did anyone figure out how to get the icon to look like the vista “show desktop” icon instead of the vista “show desktop” icon?

  • cjacko

    Hi there.

    To re-create your show desktop icon, but using the Vista icon image simply use the following code instead:

    [Shell]
    Command=2
    IconFile=shell32.dll,34
    [Taskbar]
    Command=ToggleDesktop

    Hope that helps :)

  • Devi

    people, stop believing everything one tells you to do….just go to the microsoft support websites and there you’ll get the perfect and SAFE solution to your problem !
    for thsi particular issue, please see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190355

  • http://elmantheman.wordpress.com elman

    thanks so much. the instruction is simple, easy, and effective!

  • http://www.reportbd.com Raj

    Method 2

    1. Use Windows Explorer to locate the following folders:

    Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98
    Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

    Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Microsoft Windows XP
    C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

    Note Username refers to the account name where you want to put the icon.

    2. Use the mouse to drag the Show Desktop.scf file to the Quick Launch folder.

    3. Click Move Here.

    Note By default, the Application Data folder for Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP is a hidden folder. You may have to unhide this folder by using the Advanced Settings in Internet Explorer. Click the Show hidden files and folders option.

  • Ben Nawaz

    OMG Thank you so much I was going nuts trying to get the Vista Icon For Show Desktop but thEn I used my brain and found this site! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

  • andrius

    unbelievable.
    many thanks mate.

  • Tami

    Awesome…Thanks so much! (It was really driving me nuts that I lost it!)

  • Li

    you are the best

  • http://www.hotmail.com Allan

    When i do it it shows the Desktop for 5 Seconds than it exits than it shows again once i do it on the Task Messenger I locate the Desktop thing than i do it than it shows the Desktop than it closes it again

    HELP!!!

    Please Reply

  • Stephen

    For Vista, follow Raj’s Method 2 but use this path instead:

    C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

  • dicky

    thanks, it really works!!

  • Julio Leiva

    Thanks a bunch……you are the best.

  • ifzae

    Open up an advanced search window, and on the Vista partition look for “Show Desktop”. Just make sure to include non-indexed, hidden and system files. Alternatively, you could make your way to the Quick Launch folder in “C:Users-Default-AppData-Roaming-Microsoft-Internet Explorer-Quick Launch.” (but first, change setting to view hidden files in the folder options)

    The 1 KB Show Desktop icon will be in the Quick Launch folder in all its splendor. What to do next? Well, it’s rather simple and you have two ways of completing the task of restoring the icon to the Vista taskbar. First, you can copy the shortcut and navigate your way to C:Users and then to the folder with your user name followed by AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick Launch and paste the icon here. Sounds too complicated? Well, you will also be able to select the icon and drag and drop it on the Quick Launch area on the Vista taskbar.

  • SENDIL KUMAR K

    Hey Thanks for the Post most useful suggesytion for the basic windows user…Thank you once again

  • Bambang

    hi thanks for valuable information. It works for me.

  • http://twitter.com/andrewjamison Andrew Jamison

    This just seems typical to me a company decides they no longer want to sell to the average consumer because it just is to much work and why on earth would a company want to sell anything to an individual when a large corporation might buy 100+ at a time? (sarcasm is hard to convey in text).

    I just can not get over why they bought Palm if they intended to abandon consumer level products in the first place, At least some other consumer focused company could have bought Palm and made it better.

  • http://twitter.com/andrewjamison Andrew Jamison

    This just seems typical to me a company decides they no longer want to sell to the average consumer because it just is to much work and why on earth would a company want to sell anything to an individual when a large corporation might buy 100+ at a time? (sarcasm is hard to convey in text).

    I just can not get over why they bought Palm if they intended to abandon consumer level products in the first place, At least some other consumer focused company could have bought Palm and made it better.

  • http://twitter.com/andrewjamison Andrew Jamison

    This just seems typical to me a company decides they no longer want to sell to the average consumer because it just is to much work and why on earth would a company want to sell anything to an individual when a large corporation might buy 100+ at a time? (sarcasm is hard to convey in text).

    I just can not get over why they bought Palm if they intended to abandon consumer level products in the first place, At least some other consumer focused company could have bought Palm and made it better.

  • JFK

    HP relegated itself to greedy banking institutions who lied, cheat, steal and rook the people who work for them. Am speaking from experience here. They acted no differently.

    Buyer: A BIG Beware.

  • JFK

    HP relegated itself to greedy banking institutions who lied, cheat, steal and rook the people who work for them. Am speaking from experience here. They acted no differently.

    Buyer: A BIG Beware.

  • Anonymous

    i cant believe this,me and my friend just got two i-phones for 43.78 USD each and a 25 USD gift card for 4 USD the stores want to keep this a secret and they dont tell you go here http://s6x.it/2volf

  • Anonymous

    I did get one of the 32gig units last week (tiger direct listing) and had it jail broke within an hour and tweaked with some suggestions from different websites.  The touch pad is not that bad.  I bought with the same intent.  If/when android is available (it’s not looking far off).  OR as a pad for my soon to be 4yr old v daddy’s $800 iPad

  • Anonymous

    I did get one of the 32gig units last week (tiger direct listing) and had it jail broke within an hour and tweaked with some suggestions from different websites.  The touch pad is not that bad.  I bought with the same intent.  If/when android is available (it’s not looking far off).  OR as a pad for my soon to be 4yr old v daddy’s $800 iPad

  • Anonymous

    I did get one of the 32gig units last week (tiger direct listing) and had it jail broke within an hour and tweaked with some suggestions from different websites.  The touch pad is not that bad.  I bought with the same intent.  If/when android is available (it’s not looking far off).  OR as a pad for my soon to be 4yr old v daddy’s $800 iPad

  • http://profiles.google.com/strangeanomaly Norris Washington

    Another bad move in a series of bad moves by HP. At some level, I kind of like the fact that they are putting their employees first. It seems that HP has been shafting their employees quite a bit as of late. However, the whole Touchpad fiasco has been pretty much an insult to customers who have been trying to get their hands on them. As soon as HP began collecting names of customers looking for the Touchpad in the future, they should have made sure to try to deliver product to these customers.

    As for the Touchpad itself? I actually like it quote a bit. I wouldn’t replace it with Android because 1) I already have an Android tablet and 2) I like webOS for some of its unique UI features. This way I can play around with 2 operating systems.

  • http://profiles.google.com/strangeanomaly Norris Washington

    Another bad move in a series of bad moves by HP. At some level, I kind of like the fact that they are putting their employees first. It seems that HP has been shafting their employees quite a bit as of late. However, the whole Touchpad fiasco has been pretty much an insult to customers who have been trying to get their hands on them. As soon as HP began collecting names of customers looking for the Touchpad in the future, they should have made sure to try to deliver product to these customers.

    As for the Touchpad itself? I actually like it quote a bit. I wouldn’t replace it with Android because 1) I already have an Android tablet and 2) I like webOS for some of its unique UI features. This way I can play around with 2 operating systems.

  • http://profiles.google.com/strangeanomaly Norris Washington

    Another bad move in a series of bad moves by HP. At some level, I kind of like the fact that they are putting their employees first. It seems that HP has been shafting their employees quite a bit as of late. However, the whole Touchpad fiasco has been pretty much an insult to customers who have been trying to get their hands on them. As soon as HP began collecting names of customers looking for the Touchpad in the future, they should have made sure to try to deliver product to these customers.

    As for the Touchpad itself? I actually like it quote a bit. I wouldn’t replace it with Android because 1) I already have an Android tablet and 2) I like webOS for some of its unique UI features. This way I can play around with 2 operating systems.

  • http://sunnyis.me/ Sunny Singh

    CyanogenMod is working on getting Android on to the TouchPad, it looks like they already released a somewhat usable version already.

  • http://sunnyis.me/ Sunny Singh

    CyanogenMod is working on getting Android on to the TouchPad, it looks like they already released a somewhat usable version already.

  • http://sunnyis.me/ Sunny Singh

    CyanogenMod is working on getting Android on to the TouchPad, it looks like they already released a somewhat usable version already.

  • John

    Yep, I agree with you… HP is on the verge of melt down… It is only a matter of time now. The company direction is way of course, and who knows what will happen next.

  • John

    Yep, I agree with you… HP is on the verge of melt down… It is only a matter of time now. The company direction is way of course, and who knows what will happen next.

  • John

    Yep, I agree with you… HP is on the verge of melt down… It is only a matter of time now. The company direction is way of course, and who knows what will happen next.

  • Sheridan

    There will be no more HP products here.  That means no HP and Compaq branded products.

  • Mspookie007

    So pretty much the consumer won’t be able to get any because the employees will buy them and put them on ebay for a profit. WTH. They should have done that the first time. It’s sucks people who are unemployed and can actually afford that won’t be able to get one but the HP employees who are working will be able to. My husband is overseas in the US Navy and would help me so much. After this people will not buy HP anymore, I know I’ll tell my husband to tell his buddies.M

  • Mspookie007

    So pretty much the consumer won’t be able to get any because the employees will buy them and put them on ebay for a profit. WTH. They should have done that the first time. It’s sucks people who are unemployed and can actually afford that won’t be able to get one but the HP employees who are working will be able to. My husband is overseas in the US Navy and would help me so much. After this people will not buy HP anymore, I know I’ll tell my husband to tell his buddies.M

  • Anonymous

    Wow, Ron, you are a baby. The employees were limited to 1 per person. There are more coming later this month.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, Ron, you are a baby. The employees were limited to 1 per person. There are more coming later this month.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, Ron, you are a baby. The employees were limited to 1 per person. There are more coming later this month.

  • Anonymous

    Wow, Ron, you are a baby. The employees were limited to 1 per person. There are more coming later this month.