Windows XP comes out of the box without the Quick Launch Bar.

The good news is that Quick Launch in Windows XP is easily installed with a couple clicks.

After we get the Quick Launch Bar installed, we'll talk about how to use it to dramatically speed up both work and play on your computer. Using Quick Launch on any Windows system is basically the same. Here's how to activate XP's Quick Launch:

Take a look at the picture below, and read the explanation:

On the left is what your XP computer's taskbar probably looks like if you haven't set up a Quick Launch bar.

Remember the word TASKBAR. That's what the area to the right of your START button is called.

The START button is aligned at the left end of the TASKBAR, and your CLOCK is probably at the right end of the TASKBAR.

On the right is the way your Quick Launch will look after you enable it with those clicks I mentioned above.

Let's Install the Quick Launch Bar

Right Click on an used portion of the TASKBAR. From the menu that appears, point to the word TOOLBARS and select TASKBAR from the slide-out menu.

Presto ! The Quick Launch Toolbar reappears in its rightful place next to the Start menu, where it remains to be filled with icons which you can drag from your desktop to the QUICKLAUNCH bar.

When the Quick Launch Toolbar first appears, it automatically displays three icons. Two are fairly obvious: Internet Explorer and Media Player. (Holding your mouse over any Quick Launch icon reveals its name and purpose.)

The middle icon, Show Desktop, is a tremendously valuable gizmo. Give it a click to immediately minimize all your open windows, providing you quick access to an icon you may wish to select from your desktop.

Since Quick Launch icons are merely shortcuts �?pointers to programs and places �?you can add Quick Launch icons for nearly anything: folders, programs, Web sites and pages, or even frequently used icons from your Control Panel. To add your own frequently used icons, “drag and drop�?them onto the Toolbar.

For instance, if you frequently use Windows XP’s Shared Documents folder, try this:

Open the My Computer program and point at the Shared Documents folder icon.

While holding down the mouse button, point to a spot between two of the Toolbar’s existing icons.

As the mouse pointer hovers between two existing icons, a little line appears, showing where the new icon will appear.

Let go of the mouse button, and the Shared Documents icon appears on the Toolbar.

The Toolbar automatically converts dragged and dropped icons into shortcuts, leaving the original Shared Documents folder in its normal spot. Feel free to drag and drop a favorite program’s icon from the Start menu and onto the Toolbar, as well.

If your newly added icon pushes the right-most icon out of view, there's a quick fix. To see all your icons again, make the Toolbar wider by dragging its border �?the little dotted line on the right of the last Quick Launch icon �?to the right. Can’t see any border? Then right-click an unused part of your Taskbar and click the checkmark next to the words, Lock the Taskbar. That unlocks your Taskbar, letting you rearrange its contents easier.

Feel free to rearrange your Quick Launch area as your work habits change. Right-click any icons on the Toolbar you no longer need, and choose Delete. Then drag and drop a new one into its place.

The Quick Launch Toolbar provides a handy spot to store frequently used shortcuts without having to clutter up your desktop, no matter which version of Windows you are using.

Here's a word about dropping and dragging. Don't be scared to do this. It's simple. Hold your mouse near an icon you wish to move. Hold down the left button while running over the icon. This highlights the icon. After it's highlighted, you can drag it right smack dab into the Quick Launch Bar and release the mouse button. You've just added a Quick Launch icon.

After you launch a shortcut from your Quick Launch bar, don't forget that you can then close it again by clicking the SHOW DESKTOP icon which is also in your Quick Launch Bar.