Pin desktop screen saver shortcut to taskbar

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:confused: I am setting up a new Win7 Laptop PC. I am still using my XP Desktop PC until I get the LT ready.
LT details: Dell Inspiron 15R, 8GB, Win7 Home Premium 64bit SP1.

I was able to create a shortcut on the LT desktop for the screen saver I will be using.
I then wanted to drag the desktop shortcut to the taskbar and then remove the desktop shortcut.

The LT refuses to allow the move to the taskbar; a small red symbol appears as I move the shortcut
down onto the taskbar.

I understand that it is possible to reestablish a “Quick Launch” taskbar if desired on the Win7 PC. Would
that allow me to create a taskbar screen saver shortcut, or is there a way to get Win7 to accept the
shortcut on the Win7 taskbar?

flavet

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Flavet,

You may need to unlock the taskbar. Hover your cursor over a blank portion of the task bar and right-click it. UnCheck the Lock All Taskbars option.
37120-LockTaskbar
HTH :cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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I tried your suggestion – sorry, for some reason it did not work. The red refusal still showed up.
I thought for sure that was the answer since I recently was able to move a desktop shortcut
to the taskbar with no problem. I don’t know what the setting for the lockdown was at that time.
Since I am the only one that uses my PC’s I don’t usually employ item lock downs and such.

flavet

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Did you try right clicking on the shortcut and selecting “Pin to Taskbar” ?

Jerry

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If this is a traditional .scr file it doesn’t have pin to taskbar or start menu as an option.

Your can pin (drag to) a .scr shortcut directly in the quick launch if employed.

Hack option from W7forums to enable you to pin to taskbar:

Using Bubbles.scr as a example.
Open Explorer and browse to C:WindowsSystem 32.
Right click and gently drag filename Bubbles.scr.
Select Copy here and beside Bubbles.scr you should now see Bubbles – Copy.scr.
Right click and drag this fresh copy to desktop and select Create shortcuts here.
Rename Bubbles – Copy.scr – Shortcut to simply Bubbles.exe.
Right click Bubbles.exe and select Properties.
On the Shortcut tab, rename Target from “…Bubbles.exe” to “…Bubbles.exe /s”.
Rename the shortcut anyway you like, and likewise choose a nice icon for your screensaver link.
Right click and select Pin to taskbar.

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Thank you for providing this work around. I will give it a try, soon, but not right now.
Incidently, I did try the suggestion just prior to your post, but right clicking the shortcut
did not include a ‘pin to taskbar’ item, so that did not work. Your suggestion seems
complicated enough that I suspect it works like a charm. Let’s hope so.

flavet

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@F.U.N. I tried to employ your suggestion a few minutes ago. I followed the process as best I could but I must have misunderstood one or more steps.
I have these questions about certain of the steps:

step 2: Right click and gently drag filename Bubbles.scr Q: drag it to where? I assumed the desktop.

step 3: you say the file’s name should be Bubbles – Copy.scr after doing a Copy here Q: I did not see that the name was changed in any way upon doing the Copy here. Nevertheless, I continued on without seeing the Copy.scr.

step 5: You say rename the file from .scr to .exe Q: Do you mean the name that appears below the desktop icon? I could only see that the icon title was renameable, which is what I changed.

step 7: I changed the target location from Bubbles.scr to Bubbles.exe /s (NOTE the fact that I found that the target name was not an .exe name but remained an .scr name. This means I did not understand what name was to be renamed and where that name item could be found. See my step 5 remark. I could not proceed upon trying to complete step 7.

I hope my post is understandable as written. Oh, by the way, the actual screen saver .scr file I want to use is ‘scrnsave.scr, which gives a dim blank screen.

I also hope you will provide a bit more detail in a few of the steps so I can accomplish this task in its entirety.

flavet

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I just copied that from a Win 7 forums post so I’m not familiar with it. Step 2 I can help as the file stays in the same folder, that’s why it gets the ‘copy’ added to the name. Just drag the original slightly to the left into that little space between the filename and the navigation pane and release it there and you’ll get the make copy dialogue.

As I mentioned, it works fine from the quick launch area and I add the quick launch back to everything because I like the more distinctive organization and I try to follow the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) principle unless there’s a significant benefit from more complicated; and all those steps look like a K.I.S.S violation to me. 😮

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@F.U.N.

Thank you for your rapid reply. I will retrace the process with the change you mention (copy here). If it still doesn’t work (for me), I will
try the quick launch (which I use on my other PC).
Boy, I sure hate change.

Thanks again. flavet

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I use the WIndows key plus L to invoke locking the Desktop when I’m away [shows the login screen] but it does require entering the login password if one is used.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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@Berton

Thank you for your reply. However, this tread isn’t about locking or unlocking the desktop but rather pining things to the taskbar. Someone reading
this tread may find your suggestion beneficial for them.

flavet

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Guess I missed your purpose of manually running the screensaver and suggested a built-in method of accomplishing the same effect, both of which require logging in if a password is used for Windows. After the period of time set for the screensaver has elapsed it runs on mine whether locked or not.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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Touche – and I was so concentrating on using the desktop shortcut as an item I could drag to the taskbar that I missed the implication of what the effect of what you suggested would be, which I am not sure what that will be since I never used that process and never looked to see what the effect would be if invoked. So I apologize.

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Is there any reason you can’t right-click the Taskbar, then Toolbars, New Toolbar, and drag it to that?

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That’s why Quick Launch works, it’s just another folder with privilege. Good idea if there are more shortcuts to put in a new toolbar.

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@flavet

See if From the Tips Box: Pin Any File to the Windows 7 Taskbar[/url] helps.

Joe

--Joe

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