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Customizing the Taskbar.  Click the links in the box below to learn more.

Move Your Taskbar
Resize Your Taskbar
Enable & Use Quick Launch		 Notification Area
Shortcut Menu Options
Taskbar Properties

Move Your TaskbarTaskbar moved to side of monitor
Right-click an empty spot on your taskbar. If there is a check mark beside Lock the Taskbar in the shortcut menu, click Lock the Taskbar to unlock it.
Taskbar shortcut menu with Lock the Taskbar selected  With the mouse pointer over an empty area in the center of the taskbar, click and hold the mouse button.  While holding down the mouse button, drag your taskbar to the left, right, or top of your screen to its new location.  When the taskbar is in place, release the mouse button.
To prevent your taskbar from being accidentally moved, right-click your taskbar, and click Lock the Taskbar on the shortcut menu.

Resize Your Taskbar
Move the pointer over an edge of the taskbar until the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow. Click and hold down the mouse button.  Drag the edge of the taskbar to make it wider or narrow. When you have it where you want, release the mouse button.
To prevent your taskbar from being accidentally moved, right-click your taskbar, and click Lock the Taskbar on the shortcut menu.

Enable & Use Quick Launch
For programs or folders you use all the time, don't clutter your desktop, use the Quick Launch instead for easy one-click access.
Shortcut Menu Quick LaunchTo enable Quick Launch, right-click a blank spot on the taskbar and when the shortcut menu pops up, move your mouse pointer up to Toolbars until a secondary menu pops out.  Click Quick Launch.  (Note: When there is a check mark next to the item, that means it is enabled.)  You should now see the Quick Launch in your Taskbar next to your Start button.

Quick launch

To add program shortcuts to Quick Launch, simply click on a shortcut and drag it to the toolbar.  Now you will only have to click once on the icon to open the program or folder.

If you choose to, you can also easily move the Quick Launch toolbar to any other location on the desktop. Here's how:
First position your mouse pointer over the vertical bar on the left edge of the Quick Launch toolbar until your cursor turns into a double‐headed arrow.
Then drag the Quick Launch toolbar to any location on the desktop (you can anchor it to the top, left, or right edge of the desktop).
Once you position it where you want, you can right‐click on the toolbar and select the Always On Top command so that you can always access the Quick Launch toolbar just like you can the taskbar.

Notification Area
Right-click the system clock, and click Properties on the shortcut menu. (You can also click Customize Notifications...)  In the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box, click Customize.

Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box with Customize selected

The Customize Notifications dialog box appears. For each icon you want to hide, click the Behavior list, and then click Always hide. For each icon you want to always show, click the Behavior list, and then click Always show.  Alternately, you can choose Hide when inactive and the icons will only appear in the notification area when the program is active.

Customize Notifications dialog box with Always hide selected in Behavior list

 

Click OK twice.
Notification area with pointer on left arrow iconYour notification area will be much less crowded, giving you more room for program buttons on your taskbar. To show the icons you have hidden, click the left arrow beside the notification area.

Shortcut Menu Options
To access the shortcut menu for the Taskbar, right-click on a blank spot and the menu will pop up with your available options.  (Note:  your options will be different than those on the shortcut menu for the Start button, Quick Launch, and Notification area.)
Shortcut MenuToolbars - Enable, Disable, or create your own toolbars here.
Cascade Windows, Tile Windows Horizontally, Tile Windows Vertically - If you have open windows on your desktop these options will be available for arranging those windows.
Show the Desktop - Click this to minimize all open windows so you only see the desktop. This is also available from the Quick Launch.
Task Manager - Click here to launch the Windows Task Manager where you can END tasks that are hung up or not responding.  (Task Manager can also be launched by pushing the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys at the same time.)
Lock the Taskbar - Enable this to prevent it from being accidentally moved, hidden, or resized.
Properties - Click here to open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box.

Taskbar Properties
Right-click a blank spot on the taskbar and choose Properties from the shortcut menu. This will open the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box.

Taskbar & Start Menu Properties

Click Lock the taskbar to prevent it from being moved to a new location or resized.
Click Auto-hide the taskbar if you wish to hide it when not in use.
Click Keep the taskbar on top of other windows to ensure the taskbar is always viewable over any open windows.
Click Group similar taskbar buttons to have similar items grouped in one button when the taskbar is crowded.
Click Show Quick Launch to enable the Quick Launch toolbar on the taskbar.
Click Apply or OK to save your changes.