In Windows XP, there is a permanent icon on the desktop which is not just a link to start Internet Explorer. This icon is absent in the Vista desktop. And creating it is not even an easy task.

It is possible to create a normal link that takes you to the program file of the browser. But the useful commands that are otherwise present are missing in the context menu that appears after right-clicking the link direct access to Internet options, with 'Settings' for instance. But a registry entry helps you position the internal link to the Internet Explorer on the desktop.



Start the registry editor, navigate your way to the 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\New Start Panel' key. Open 'Edit | New | DWORD value (32 bit)'. Then type the class ID with the brackets and press Enter. Double-click the new entry and make sure that the 'Value' is set to '0'. If you want the modification to be valid for all users, use the specified DWORD value in the same sub-key under 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE'. Close the registry, click on a free space on the desktop and press [F5]Windows updates the appearance.


If the icon isn't displayed, activate the access to Internet Explorer by double- clicking 'Default Programs' in the Control Panel. Follow the 'Set program access and computer defaults' link. If you work with the 'Custom' configuration, open it and activate the 'Enable access to this program' option to the right of Explorer.