Windows Vista does not place Internet Explorer (currently Internet Explorer 7 or IE7) icon or shortcut on desktop. Even if initially there is IE desktop icon, once you delete or hide the IE icon, it’s pretty hard to get back the full applet IE7 desktop icon even though during the deletion, the warning message prompts you to restore it later from Personalization in Control Panel, as IE7 or IE is not contained in Desktop Icon Settings Creating shortcut to IE7 won’t be nice as it’s shortcut icon, not an actual IE7 desktop icon which allows you easy access to Internet Properties and other related Internet functions (see image below).
IE7 desktop icon and desktop shortcut side by side.
To re-enable, restore, show and display the Internet Explorer 7 (IE or IE7) Vista desktop icon, here the step on how to do it:
1. Start registry editor by clicking on Start button, then select “Run”. Type in “regedit” in the Open text box and hit “OK” or press “Enter”.
2. Navigate to the following registry key:[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]If you’re using classic theme or scheme, browse to the following registry location instead:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu]
If the above key doesn’t exist, create a new key.
3. Edit or create a DWORD (32-bit) value named {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} and set it with value of 0 (dword:00000000).
4. Refresh Windows Vista desktop by pressing F5 or right click on desktop and click “Refresh”.
You will see the IE or IE7 icon has been put back on Vista desktop.
