Quick Launch Toolbar

The Quick Launch bar displays icons you can click to quickly open programs, show the desktop, or perform other tasks.  Quick Launch is one of several types of toolbars that can be added to the Taskbar.  It is nothing more than a collection of shortcuts that appear directly to the left of the Taskbar (actually it may be considered as part of the Taskbar - not sure). If you have no Quick Launch bar, it may actually be there but you simply have no shortcuts there. However, during installation, WinXP places several shortcuts there, such as the "Show Desktop" ON/OFF toggle button, IE, etc. 

The Quick Launch toolbar and it's shortcuts are stored at:
D:\Documents and Settings\user_name\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Adding shortcuts to the Quick Launch Bar 

• Copy an Existing Shortcut - right-click on an existing shortcut on your desktop, drag it to the Quick Launch bar, release the button, and left-click on "Copy"
• Create a new Shortcut - open Windows Explorer to locate the file you want to create a shortcut to, and then right-click and drag to the Quick Launch bar, release the button, and left-click on "Create Shortcut/s".

To show the Quick Launch bar

1. Right-click the taskbar , and then click Properties.
2. On the Taskbar tab, select the Show Quick Launch check box, and then click Apply.

 Note - you can turn off the Quick Launch bar by clearing the check box.