Windows XP Cookbook (Cookbooks)

Problem

You want to be able to go to an Internet site without first having to open your browser and type in the URL.

Solution

You can add an Address Bar to the Taskbar that will let you type in a URL and go to the site using Internet Explorer.

Using a graphical user interface

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and from the menu that appears, make sure that there is no check next to Lock the Taskbar.

2. Right-click the Taskbar again. From the menu that appeared, choose Toolbars and put a check next to Address.

3. The word Address will appear on the Taskbar, just to the left of the Notification Area. To the left of the word Address will be a handle. Drag the handle to the left until a box for the Address Bar appears. You can now type in URLs. If you want to lock the Address Bar in that position, right-click on the Taskbar and put a check next to Lock the Taskbar.

Discussion

When you launch a URL in this way you will, of course, launch it in your default web browser. If you want to launch the URL in another browser, type in the executable filename in front of the URL, including the full path, like this:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe http://www.oreilly.com

See Also

MS KB 221754, "How to Search the Internet from the Address Bar in Internet Explorer"