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Tech Tips / Windows XP / Desktop and GUI

Unlock Windows XP's hidden features

Most users will notice the obvious enhancements in Windows XP, such as the new user interface, which is more colorful and user-friendly than the gray interface in previous versions. But some of the best new features are often those you never notice. Locking is one such feature.

You may have noticed that you can't move the taskbar and toolbars in various Windows XP applications. For instance, if you open Internet Explorer, you can't move either the Address bar or the icon bar. The same is true in Windows Explorer. This is because all toolbars are locked by default.

In order to move them, you must first unlock them. You can do this by right-clicking on the toolbar and selecting the Lock The Toolbars option. The check should disappear from the context menu. You can now move the toolbars around. Once you have positioned the toolbars, lock them once more. This will prevent you from accidentally moving them. The same locking feature is implemented on the Taskbar. Simply right-click on a free area of the Taskbar and select Lock The Taskbar.