"Minimize All Windows" in XP?

Kratz · Post by **Kratz** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:16 pm

My new job is my first experience with Windows XP, and while it seems pretty good overall, one of my gripes is that right clicking the task bar no longer has 'Minimize All Windows' - with my old trusty shortcut key - but has 'Show the Desktop' instead.

What the hell!?

Is there some way I can change this? I'm already running the 'classic' start menu style, but that doesn't do it.

Thanks for any help...

Jeff Jones · Post by **Jeff Jones** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:18 pm

the Windows key + M will minimize all windows.

godhugh · Post by **godhugh** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:29 pm

Do you just not like the way it's worded? It performs the same function...

msurby · Post by **msurby** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:29 pm

So does "Show Desktop", right?

Kratz · Post by **Kratz** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:34 pm

godhugh wrote:Do you just not like the way it's worded? It performs the same function...

Yes, but especially I don't like that I can't right click and hit 'N' (I think... damn... see, I don't know, but my fingers do!) and minimize all... I'm either hitting the key I use in 2000 and it is doing nothing, or I'm searching the context menu for an option that isn't there... my brain has become hard wired to the 2000 way of doing things.

I guess maybe I could work on Win+M, but I never use that key... Mainly I'm a big whiney baby who hates change.

The Meal · Post by **The Meal** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:38 pm

FWIW, I use a third option -- I've got the "Show Desktop" icon in my quick menu bar. So I just end up left-clicking on that bad-boy.

I've been meaning to get used to the Win-M keystroke, but I'm so morally against the windows key in the first place that it'd make me too much of a sell-out to actually start using it. (I still use ctrl-esc to open up the start menu from the keyboard...)

~Neal

godhugh · Post by **godhugh** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:42 pm

I do the same thing as Meal. I have the quick menu bar up and just click the Show Desktop button.

godhugh · Post by **godhugh** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:42 pm

As for changing the wording, you can't do that. It's hard-coded.

Guy Incognito · Post by **Guy Incognito** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 1:45 pm

I never got into the windows key-m thing, I prefer windows key-d (d is for desktop I supposed). The nice thing about win-d is that hitting it again will bring all your windows back up. Great for glancing at something on the desktop and then popping back to where you were before.

Long live Win-D!

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 3:04 pm

The Meal wrote:FWIW, I use a third option -- I've got the "Show Desktop" icon in my quick menu bar. So I just end up left-clicking on that bad-boy.

I've been meaning to get used to the Win-M keystroke, but I'm so morally against the windows key in the first place that it'd make me too much of a sell-out to actually start using it. (I still use ctrl-esc to open up the start menu from the keyboard...)

~Neal

You're the same as me brother. That Windows key is evil I tells ya!

Jeff Jones · Post by **Jeff Jones** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 3:27 pm

Enough wrote:
You're the same as me brother. That Windows key is evil I tells ya!

Why are you guys so against the Win key?? I mean what's so bad about it .... other than the fact that it's placed directly between the oft-used Alt and Ctrl keys, and that if you mistakenly hit it in a game, you'll be whisked away from the game world to your desktop, most likely resulting in your character's horrible, mangled death? Yeah.. other than that I mean.

ChrisGwinn · Post by **ChrisGwinn** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 6:09 pm

Just because I'm a huge fucking dork, here's an explanation of the difference between "Minimize All" and "Show Desktop".

http://weblogs.asp.net/oldnewthing/arch ... 43042.aspx

The rest of the site is also useful for really arcane windows information.