Please Bring Back my IE

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Every time I install a fresh copy of Vista and/or Server 2008, I have to dig this up and “remember” how to bring back my IE icon on the desktop, since there’s no longer a way in the UI to do it, so I thought I’d share this with you (and me next time I need it!) as well.  Hopefully it will save you some time.

Using Regedit, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

Locate the value {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D} in the right pane and change it from a 1 to a 0.

Finally, refresh your desktop by selecting it with the mouse and pressing F5 (or secondary click and choose “Refresh”).

Note:  You can also make this change under HKEY_LOCAL_SYSTEM for a system wide change for all users, instead of for one specific user.  Keep in mind, however, if the value exists in both places, the one located under HKEY_CURRENT_USER will be used.

To save you some time, here are the contents of the .REG file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}"=dword:00000000