Taskbar Pinned Items - Reset and Clear in Windows 7

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    Taskbar Pinned Items - Reset and Clear in Windows 7

    Taskbar Pinned Items - Reset and Clear in Windows 7

    How to Reset and Clear All Pinned Items on the Taskbar in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Reset and Clear All Pinned Items on the Taskbar in Windows 7


       Information
    This will show you how to reset and remove all of your currently pinned items on the taskbar (program icons) in Windows 7.

    This can be helpful if you cannot "Unpin this program from the taskbar", or you just wish to quickly clear all pinned items from the taskbar.

    This only includes resetting and removing all of your pinned programs and shortcuts on the taskbar.

    This does not include taskbar toolbars or Jump Lists.

       Note
    By default, your pinned taskbar programs/shortcuts are saved in both locations below. This is what this tutorial will be deleting to reset and remove all pinned program icons on the taskbar for you using a BAT file.

    In the registry:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband

    In the hidden TaskBar folder:
    C:\Users\(user-name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar


    EXAMPLE: Pinned Programs on the Taskbar in Windows 7
    Taskbar Pinned Items - Reset and Clear in Windows 7-example.jpg

    Here's How:
    1. Click on the Download buttom below to download the .bat file below, then run it.
    Reset_Clear_Pinned_Taskbar_Items.bat


    Download

    2. If prompted, click on Run.
    NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

    3. You will now notice your screen flicker as explorer is restarted.

    4. All pinned program icons on your taskbar will now be reset and cleared.
    That's it,
    Shawn







  1. Posts : 178
    Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 32-bit Build 7601
       #1

    When I do this tutorial, the taskbar will not reset unless I restarted the computer.
    Last edited by JonathanV; 09 Sep 2012 at 05:40.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Odd, it works just fine for me when used as written in the tutorial on all my systems without having to do anything but run and approve (click on run) the downloaded .bat file.

    Did explorer get stopped and restarted when you ran the downloaded .bat file? This would be the screen flashing with the taskbar going away when explorer is stopped, and coming back reset when explorer is restarted.

    What did you have on your taskbar before resetting it? Could you post a screenshot?

    Do you have any security program installed that may have prevented/blocked it from fully working?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro 1703 V10.0.15063.296
       #3

    I have been using this programme very sucessfully now for a some time --- thank you very much. Until recently, for example, Firefox was annoying everyone by pinning its icon to the taskbar during every new update. But one tap on your app, and the icon was gone.

    There seems, however, to be a problem with the Creator update 1703 of Windows 10 Pro. Whenever I run your programme, the icon of the Windows 10 Mail app (that neither I nor anyone else ever uses) appears on the taskbar, and has to be removed by right-clicking. I have no idea why this is happening, except that probably M$ is trying to force its Mail app onto people by the irritating tactics that have become so common recently.

    If you know how to fix this, it would be greatly appreciated. I know that you only designed your programme for Windows 7, but it has seemed to work in Windows 10 until now.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello TaskbarClearer, and welcome to Seven Forums. :)

    I have a Windows 10 version of this tutorial below, but it's basically the same though.

    Reset and Clear Taskbar Pinned Apps in Windows 10 Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

    I have the Mail app pinned to my taskbar, and it's still able to remove it for me. It could be an issue with the Mail app itself, so you might see if resetting the app may help.

    Reset App in Windows 10 Windows 10 Apps Features Tutorials
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro 1703 V10.0.15063.296
       #5

    Thanks very much for looking into this and replying so quickly.

    1. I downloaded and ran your updated Windows 10 version of the BAT file. The hehaviour was the same as before --- running the BAT file adds the Mail app to the taskbar, and it then has to be removed by right-clicking.

    2. I performed the Reset operation for the Mail app --- no change in the behaviour.

    3. By the way, my Settings screens are different from your screenshots (in particular, there is no 'Get Started' item; instead, you click on the app 'Mail and Calendar' and the Advanced option appears). I am using the current Creator update, 1703 V10.0.15063.296, and possibly your BAT file is written for another version. The problem I am describing did not occur on any of the Anniversary Update builds, and only appeared with the Creator update.

    4. I read the details of your tutorial again. With the mail app showing on the taskbar, I navigated to:
    %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
    It was empty (hidden and system files were turned on).
    - - - - - - - -

    5. The Registry finally gave what seems to be the clue. I went to the address given in your tutorial:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband.

    A. There is a subfolder called AuxiliaryPins, which in turn contains an item called 'MailPin'. This seems to be a default icon that is always copied to the Taskbar.

    B. With the Mail app showing in the taskbar, there is an extra item called 'FavoritesResolve'. When the Mail icon is removed by right-clicking, and the Registry display refreshed, this item disappears.

    I have attached the Registry files for the Taskband folder and the AuxliaryPins subfolder, first when the Mail icon is in the taskbar, and secondly when it is removed. I have no competence to muck around with the Registry, so all I can do is post the details of what seems to be the clue to the situation, and then leave it to the experts.
    Taskbar Pinned Items - Reset and Clear in Windows 7 Attached Files
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm running Windows 10 Insider v1703 build 16199.

    The .bat file below to reset the taskbar deletes the Taskband key and its subkeys, so you shouldn't have anything left.

    Is the contents of your TaskBar folder below getting deleted after resetting?


    Code:
    DEL /F /S /Q /A "%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\*"
    
    REG DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband /F
    
    taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
    
    start explorer.exe
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro 1703 V10.0.15063.296
       #7

    Unless I'm missing something, the BAT file in your most recent post looks exactly the same as the BAT file that I downloaded this morning from the top of the same webpage.

    To clarify what I detailed in my previous posting:

    The results of running the BAT file are:
    * The Mail app icon appears in the taskbar, even when it was missing before.
    * The registry item:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband
    contains the items listed in TaskbandWithMailIcon.reg. The items includes the folder 'AuxiliaryPins', whose items are listed in AuxiliaryPinsWithMailIcon.reg.
    * The user directory:
    %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
    is empty (hidden and system files displayed).

    Subsequent Deletion ov the Mail app icon by right-clicking has the following results:
    * The Mail app icon disappears.
    * The registry item (after refreshing):
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband
    contains the items listed in TaskbandWithoutMailIcon.reg attached to my previous post --- note that there is one fewer item now. The items includes the folder 'AuxiliaryPins', whose items are listed in AuxiliaryPinsWithoutMailIcon.reg.
    * The user directory:
    %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
    is empty (hidden and system files displayed).

    As I said, it looks as if M$ has made the Mail icon into a default icon to be pinned to the taskbar. I have no competence to deal with this.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows 10 Pro 1703 V10.0.15063.296
       #8

    Sorry, the first sentence in my post above should read, "The BAT file in your most recent post looks exactly the same as the updated Windows 10 version that I downloaded this morning."
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    That's correct. The .bat file does the same.

    It includes deleting both the "Taskband" key and its "AuxiliaryPins" subkey.

    As a test, does it reset and clear your pinned taskbar items if you manually delete the "Taskband" registry key and "TaskBar" folder above, then restart the explorer process to apply?
      My Computer


 
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