Discussion on:

Taking a fresh look at the Windows XP Task pane

... if there were some ways to access those quick links using keyboard shortcuts?

How often I wished that the Insert key could add a new Folder (yes I know some 3rd party programs do, but I don't want to install programs for basic OS stuff).

Having said which I just discovered the 'email selected folder/files' shortcut and will definitely be making more use of that!

I didn't get much out of the original article but reading the comments showed me how to put my computer on the task bar, how to show the tasks in My Computer and how to quickly open Windows Explorer with Windows +E. All very helpful tips.

"I didn't get much out of the original article but" I am not degreed in the IT field but have been hunting and pecking since the early eighties on company networks and can hold my own in solving basic problems. I have often wondered just who the manuals, instructions, articles and tips are written for that come from the vendors and pundits (especially Microsoft and Symantec). I have said countless times I wish the authors would take what they have written to the street or to the office down the block and have someone in the real world give a realty check on their work. I guess my rant is mostly due to having one of these experiences this morning. Thank Goodness for Google.

Hanging out at TR I've recently started using it, especially for creating new folders, and it is really growing on me. I nearly find it indispensible now that I've used it awhile.

I just have one gripe about it, however, and I'm surprised that someone hasn't created an add-on (hint, hint) to fix what I consider to be a gaping shortfall with the task pane: users don't seem to be able to add other tasks to it.

For instance, when I right-click on a file or folder in Windows Explorer, I can select "Scan with Norton Internet Security", but can I add that command to the File and Folder Tasks? NO0000!!! (Not that I've been able to find, anyway)

Another minor gripe I have (this is with Windows Explorer, but mostly when I want to be using the task pane, so I'll mention it here) is that I'd love to be able to have a keyboard shortcut for toggling between showing the task pane and showing the folders view. (I might or might not mind having both visible at the same time in some sort of three column or split-left-column layout as an alternative, but it would have to be functionally robust and visually appealing as well!)

Okay, I'm done griping now.

Use alt combination of "alt, f, w".

To access all drives and control panel directly from Task bar, all you have to do is,

Right click on Task bar and go to Toolbars -> New Toolbar, Select My Computer and click ok.

This makes you access all drives and control panel from Task bar itself.

To get "Copy To" and "Move To" in Shell:

1. Start the Registry Editor

2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ AllFilesystemObjects \ shellex \ ContextMenuHandlers \

3. Right-click the ContextMenuHandlers entry, and from the menu select New > Key

4. Name the new key Copy To

5. Repeat step 3, but this time for the name (step 4) choose Move To

6. Change the (Default) string value found in the Copy To key to {C2FBB630-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}

7. Change the (Default) string value found in the Move To key to {C2FBB631-2971-11D1-A18C-00C04FD75D13}

8. Close the registry editor.

These two tweaks makes computing more easier.

Thanks, Goutham, just what I was looking for!

Good useful comment. Thanks!

The Task Pane in XP is really cool, and it's a shame that the Toolbar in Vista has not got the same context sensitive usefulness to the same degree.

Sounds good, but it isn't helpful if you don't know how to find the task pane or what it looks like.

Your article explains what but not how to get the task pane. I opened My Computer but see no way of getting the Task Pane. OS XP Pro

Double click on My Computer and look for the column on the left that has boxes in it with "System Tasks," "Other Places," and "Details." It will also have a box for "File and Folder Tasks" when you start double-clicking clicking on folders or clicking on files. If you "explore" My Computer (right click and hit explore) you will not see the task pane.

If you mean go to the desktop (I usually keep icons hidden) and click on "MC" when I did, no such items are visible, nor are they after the next guy's idea of using the common tasks option--it looks the same common tasks or windows classic. Of course since we have no priviledges, maybe they aren't accessible. What is the task pane in the first place? I thought the task pane was the blue bar at the bottom of the screen next to the start button. I normally leave "MC" alone, it is to me of little value. I use WExp more. Using the folder option shows the files available under each folder on the left, in lieu of the disk icons otherwise.

Boy do I feel stupid! Been working with M$ Windows since day 1 and this is another new one for me!

In My Computer, click on TOOLS, then FOLDER OPTIONS. Under the "General" tab, the first item is TASKS. Click on "Show common tasks in folders". Then click APPLY and you're done!

In My Computer on the ToolBar click on the Folder icon. It will toggle the Task Pane with the Folder view in the left panel. Just click again to go back to the other view.

The author makes the cardinal sin of explaining about a feature of Windows XP without ever explaining where it is or how to use it. This is simply inexcusable, especially as the author himself lists the feature as a "less-well-known feature".

I always treat people like they will understand "by osmosis" or something; a bad habit I will be fighting the rest of my life; I'm afraid..

I never use it and have always hated it. I get to my files and folders with the keyboard using Windows + E.

heck, I always right click on start and just select 'explore'

it was a good place to start to look at a lot of problems and also do something about; kind of a maintenance catch all.

It would have been nice if Greg had explained more about how to get to the task pain and exactly what it is for that matter. But I do like the tip about the folders button on the toolbar (in My Computer) to toggle between the folders view and the task pane.

I like run commands, add remove programs via appwiz.cpl.

appwiz.cpl Now that was nice. I forgot about run commands. Do you have more?

Nice suggestion, but it gave as much information as my telling you how easy it is to bake a cake if you take eggs, flour and butter and bake tham to get one. Uh, how do you get to the results you speak of? Are you lazy or just believe that everyone has your knowledge?

I notice that you are a "LAN Admin." Are you serious? This stuff is minor to a LAN admin. Don't go throwing dirt at the author if YOU are too lazy to try to learn the basics. I'm a fan of Explorer and have used it as a preference, but, after the suggestions here, I'm certainly going to look closer at the "Task Pane." (which, by the way... a task pane is a task pane is a task pane.) Ever look at MS Word? How about Excel? Both have "Task pane"s and located in the same place. I've also noticed that there are some "Retired" persons here on these posts that evidently have more familiarity with MS products than this particular Net Admin. I'm a bit shocked that you are so quick to criticize.

Great article (IMO)

I see them in MSO, but not anywhere else. None of the "how to get there" explanations have actually given anything that shows the task pane.

Double-click My Computer (not Windows Explorer).
Look on the left side of the window. If you see System Tasks with options under it, Other Places with other options under it, etc. that is the Task Pane. If you don't see those options go to the Tools menu item and select "Folder Options". On the General Tab make sure "Show common tasks in folders" is selected. You should now see the Task Pane options when you open My Computer.
If you open Windows Explorer you see the Folder view on the left. If you click the Folders button on the tool bar, you will have the "My Computer" view, which should still be showing the task pane. The Folder button basically toggles between the "My Computer" view and the "Windows Explorer" view.

Good Reminder!

Thank you very much. I have used so many other FM that make my life easier, since Windows 9x I have avoided Windows Explorer for the lack of options. Yet, a lot of times I have seen the "Tasks Pains" behave differntly in other computers. I really love my alternatives, yet it will help when I don't have them at hand.

Very good tip Greg Shultz. I missed out on the ease of use of using the Task pane because I for one prefered the Folders view. I now find using the Task pane to make a make new folder or add or remove a program very useful. Thanks for the very good tip.

I have used the Classic view for years.I customize it by Checking Status Bar under View, And I unlock the tool bar under View and Add a couple of Separator Bars, Folder Options, Stop, Properties, Cut, Copy, and Paste. And I add Control Panel to the Classic view so it is one more click to Add Remove Programs. I also am lazy so I set Single Click to open an Item.

It would be nice to have the option to have the taskpane AND folders view at the same time.
But, how about the taskpane in the save/open window in Office applications? See below:
When you save or open a file from Word, Excel, etc. the window that opens has the taskbar (pane) on the left side. (Similar to the taskpane in Windows Exployer - XP)
It shows "History", "My Documents", "Desktop", "Favorites", and "My Network Places". These are not the best helps. With a new document you might use History for previous folders (but the Office programs default to those spots). How many times would you save to the Desktop? The Favorites is more suited for Internet shortcuts, it would be overloaded with all of the docs, and couldn't be shared.
When you want to save/open at a Network area you have find the correct network pc and go through all the folders of it and hope you find the right folder so someone else would know where to find it.
Is there a way to have it show "Shared Documents", or "Shared Documents on the Data PC" (networked), or something else meaningful?

You can do some of this. For instance, if you frequently save to a specific folder on the network, do the following to get that folder in the task pane:
While in a document, click Save or Save as.
When the Save dialog opens, browse to and highlight the folder you want in the task pane. Click on Tools (upper right in the Save dialog). Select "Add to My Places".

OK...
How does one access the "Task Pane"? There are no instructions nor tips on how to access it. By default, one usually uses the "My Computer" or "Explorer" Icon, but where does one access "Task Pane"? Hmmmm...I thought there is usally a tip or explanation of how...oh, well. Anyway.

Quite a few readers have asked this. The Task Pane is what you see on the left of the window when you switch "Folders" (using the Folders button) off in Windows Explorer.

that's not the case on any XP machine that I've ever touched.

You really should have explained how to access that view if it's not the default.

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