Add "My Computer" to Your Vista Taskbar
I like to have the quickest access possible to folders on my desktop, which usually means putting something onto the taskbar if possible. You can add the Computer menu as a folder on the taskbar for the easiest access to your drives. You could also use this tip for any folder you want.
To add a folder to the taskbar, just right-click on the taskbar and choose the Toolbars menu, and then click on New Toolbar.
Just find the folder that you want… in this instance we’ll select the Computer icon and then click on Select Folder.
Now you can see the Computer folder right there on the taskbar. If you click the little arrows it will pop up and let you browse through all your drives.
I always add the Desktop to the toolbar as well.
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This works in XP too, btw
But it takes up so much taskbar space because it writes out “My Computer”. I wish I could just have the arrows, or rename it to something shorter.
You can rename it to something shorter. Just right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Rename from the context menu. I renamed mine to PC. The toolbar will have the same name as the location it points to.
On Vista right click on it and uncheck “show text” and “show title” and only the icon shows. My prob is that I want to get rid of it because the “floppy disk drive” icon shows and the “Local Disk C” icon is hidden. It came with the package. Sending it to the Recycle Bin doesn’t work. It stays put. Any solutions? Thanks, Wayne. PS – I know Vista doesn’t have a floppy disk drive but it says it does. One of MS jokes.
PSS – The right click thing works with all or most text on toobar or notification icons. Wayne
Thanks anyway, but got rid of the icons in the usual way. Right click on toolbar, uncheck Computer. Wayne
I recall this works on XP as well. However if you unlocked the task bar you were able to drag it onto your desktop. This would be much more useful to me but it dosnt work on vista but i did see a my computer tool bar on the desktop of a display computer running vista at David Johns or something. Any ideas?
Has anyone managed to get only one icon or do you get one each for “drive c”, “floppy d.” etc? In my case they can’t be deleted seperately, so all had to go. I have Vista. Thanks, Wayne
I’ve used this to quickly open folders with work, photos or music. If I may humbly add my own bit of advice, I found it very helpful to change the icons for the shortcut so they stand out without needing space-hungry text.
Right-click on the shortcut and select Properties. Left-Click on the Change Icon button and pick something from the list that appears. You could make your own if you want but this is much quicker.
Can I suggest an even better way – truelaunchbar.com – it replaces the Quick Launch bar. I’ve been using it for years. It allows you to add menus, folders, shortcuts, etc. to that little area next to the Start button that will make your life so much easier.
True Launch Bar costs $19.90. Isn’t there something free out there that does the same?
I found the easiest way to have quick acccess is to use AppLauncher in the sidebar. This way one does not mess up the taskbar and you can put many. The sidebar, of course, must be “always on top”.
http://gallery.live.com/liveIt.....93940e4ab6
Works on Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP and 2003 as well. Works on Windows 95 and NT only if Windows Desktop Update from Internet Explorer setup is installed.
I’ve been using TrueLaunchBar for years too – well worth the price.
this tips is so helpful !!
i cant find [my computer icon] any where how do i get it back? please help me ok thanks so much lela
I like it except for it putting all the items of My Computer out.
I have 5 hd’s and 6 ‘removables so it clutters up the taskbar unecessarily.
If it could menu it up … I would consider this a great idea.
But its too much clutter for me.
It works in Win 98 to Vista
but in vista,xp,milenium,2000,98,97 you could put that bar anywhere you want it, in windows 7 i m only able to put it in the task bar which is rather pointless, is their any way to reposition invidual tool bars to various sides of the screen,
my usual setup on all previous versions of windows has ben like this, my computer bar on the top of the monitor, desktop bar on the right side, i havnt found a way o do this on win7 yet, any ideas.
Another way is to right click on the desktop and choose Personalize. In the window that opens on the top left click on Change desktop icons. Next tick on the Computer or Network icon. That will place it on the desktop. To move it onto your taskbar right click on the taskbar and choose Open Folder. Next drag the desktop icon into the open folder and close it. Once on the taskbar you can drag the icons into the order you want them. This works great with the taskbar on Auto-hide.
I have been try to set the windows vista in my computer but i still failed to set it…how could i set windows vista
This ist pretty late on your desktop
you should go to bed instead of writing tips for us – even if theire usefull 
Um…think about it… for me its 21:16pm … depends on where he was at…
On another forum… all times are central…even if it comes from the other side of the planet so some will seem to be posting in the wee hours.
I wonder if thats similar here.
But for me… if I cant customize which ‘my computer drives’ show up…its overkill for me having too many media drives…
What I have works for me…and if I cant have the above idea exclude the media drives which will usually rarely have stuff in them (on demand per cameras)…then nope, it aint worth it.
For the basic user, yes this is a great idea, I do in fact use similar on my other small machines.
I’m trying to put “my computer” on my desktop but the directions are not clear. I need it in black & white.
ML