The taskbar

The taskbar is the colored strip along the bottom of the desktop. In a sense, the taskbar is like the
center desk drawer of a real desk. It provides quick access to frequently used programs and features of
Windows. Even when some large program window is covering the Windows desktop and its icons, the
taskbar can remain visible on the screen so that you can get to the things if offers. As discussed in the
sections that follow, the taskbar contains the Start button, the Quick Launch toolbar, and the
Notifications area.
If you don’t see the taskbar at all, it’s probably hidden (out of the way for the moment). Typically, to
bring the taskbar into view, you must move the mouse pointer down to the very bottom of the screen. If
the taskbar doesn’t slide into view automatically, you may have to drag it up. To do so, move the mouse
button to the very bottom of the screen, hold down the primary (left) mouse button, drag the mouse
pointer upward a half inch or so, and then release the mouse button. Chapter 13 explains how you can
customize the appearance and behavior of the taskbar.