I have the habit of launching the icons from quick launch more often than in desktop. Reason is when all the Windows are open, I needed a simple and fast way to show desktop, switch between windows and also to run software that I use very often such as Firefox. Although I am aware of shortcut keys such as Win + D to show desktop, Win + M to minimize all opened windows and Win + Tab to switch between windows but I seldom use it. Maybe I’m just not use to it.
Restore Vista Show Desktop shortcut
Here is a question that I recently got in forum which is how to restore the missing Show Desktop and Flip3D Switch Between Windows shortcut if accidentally deleted it? First of all, make sure that you or someone else did not accidentally disable the Quick Launch bar. Simply right click on the taskbar, go to Toolbars and see if Quick Launch is checked or not. If not, checking it will bring back the Quick Launch bar with your Show Desktop and Windows Switcher Flip3D shortcut. If you’re sure that both of the icons are not there, here’s how to restore it back.

The easiest way to restore both Show Desktop and Switch Between Windows icons is to go to this location.

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

If you can’t see the Default folder, you’ll have to go to Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab and select “Show hidden files and folders”.
Vista Show Hidden Files and Folders

Copy both of the icons to your profile’s quick launch. Your profile’s quick launch folder would be at:

C:\Users\[YourUserName]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

If navigating to these browsers are way too confusing, the easier way would be opening My Computer, type shell:Quick Launch at the address bar and hit Enter. That’d bring you directly to YOUR profile’s quick launch folder. Now paste the copied icons there.

If somehow the default user’s quick launch icon are also gone, then you can download both of the icons from the link below and extract them to your Quick Launch folder. They are taken from my Vista computer.

[ Download Vista Shows Desktop and Window Switcher Shortcut ]

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