How do I undelete the Windows "Show Desktop" application?

October 6, 2006 6:32 AM

Oops ... I accidentally deleted the "Show Desktop" application from Windows XP. Not just the taskbar shortcut, mind you, but the actual program. What is the easiest way to undelete it? I tried using a restore point, but it didn't work.
posted by zembla3 to computers & internet (10 comments total)

This knowledge base article has steps. It's not really a program — it's a text file with some commands in it — so you can recreate it yourself.

BTW, I couldn't get the actual steps to show in Firefox so I had to use IE.
posted by smackfu at 6:35 AM on October 6, 2006

This "Show Desktop" thingy is not an application but a small Windows Explorer command file.
posted by rom1 at 6:38 AM on October 6, 2006

WindowsKey+D will do the same thing, only as a keyboard shortcut.

I find it much handier.
posted by unixrat at 6:44 AM on October 6, 2006 [2 favorites]

Put

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

in %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf.
posted by grouse at 6:44 AM on October 6, 2006 [2 favorites]

I find it much handier.

God, me too, but it's funny how as someone who started on the Mac during the days when the mouse was absolutely necessary that I now use mostly keyboard commands and how most Windows users I know are addicted to the "ease" of the mouse, even when it's not easy at all.

(+faved your answer grouse, thanks)
posted by smallerdemon at 6:57 AM on October 6, 2006

WindowsKey+D will do the same thing, only as a keyboard shortcut.

I find it much handier.
Thanks! Yay, now I can get rid of one of the icons in my taskbar!
posted by donajo at 7:54 AM on October 6, 2006

WindowsKey+D will do the same thing, only as a keyboard shortcut.

WindowsKey+M does the same.
posted by squeak at 9:20 AM on October 6, 2006

No, WindowsKey+M just minimises everything. Pressing it a second time does nothing, unlike WindowsKey+D which toggles showing/hiding the desktop.
posted by matthewr at 9:45 AM on October 6, 2006

Yeah, but WinKey+Shift+M unminimizes everything.

See also: Raymond Chen on the difference between Minimize All and Show Desktop
posted by grouse at 10:41 AM on October 6, 2006

Learn something new everyday, thanks for the link grouse.
posted by squeak at 2:31 PM on October 6, 2006