Rocket Dock minimize Problem

I don't minimize anything to RocketDock here whiile still having a WE shortcut along with one for browsers added onto it. I simply set the task bar to view as menu. Taskbar List or Thumbnail Previews Mode - Change

The other option to avoid seeing the taskbar fill up too fast is to create a new addon Quick Launch type toolbar. Quick Launch - Enable or Disable

You can even add the Recycle Bin icon to the task bar if you want! Recycle Bin - Pin to Taskbar

Here I have 5 tool bars added one being a Quick Bar for a few browsers as well as some VM players and more frequently used apps which tally up fast! RocketDock is over on the second screen for access while running something full screen on the first of the two monitors.

IE windows will minimize to RocketDock if you open IE from there when having the minimize to dock box checked off. As for Windows Explorer, Control Panel, and other things those will still minimize to the taskbar only!

Another option might be using the Better Explorer or other file browsers for Windows seen in the last 5yrs. or so. But for Windows Explorer, Control Panel, and some other things those are part of the Windows shell. The main gui file itself is the explorer.exe file.

You can't simply do away with the taskbar completely for minimizing things while you can set it to auto hide itself when not wanting it dosplayed.

As an alternative to RocketDock you could try Nexus free Winstep Nexus Dock and Nexus Ultimate - The Advanced Docking System for Windows it minimizes applications and Windows Explorer to the dock.
It adds it to the end of the dock shown in the screenshot below.
Here they are minimized


Here they are not(option turned off)


Here is the setting in preferences


Jerry

I would have given that one a look here since I need besides RocketDock which would see WE windows minimize to it since I have the tool bar positioned on the second display while running something full screen on the first. But that's also a paid for utility while RocketDock and CircleDock are free programs.

The Smart bar extension seen with UltraMon or DisplayFusion simply is the taskbar extended over to see items minimized to that instead of the main taskbar. I tend to use it for that ability when the primary is busy with something.

That's why the smart bar and move button seen for dual display softwares is an esset. If you have something going full screen on the primary display any windows minimized see the icon on the smart bar there since the window is on that part of the extended desktop.