Solution: Quick Launch Disappears After Restart In Windows

I got a mail from a Technize reader asking me about his problem. The problem was that every time he enabled the quick launch toolbar and then restarted the system, the toolbar had gone and had to be re=enabled again.
Actually when Windows shuts down, it saves all the settings in the user profile including the desktop settings, icon placements and taskbar settings. All these instructions are saved in the Windows registry. If, for some reason, the registry setting changes, Windows will not save the settings while logging off or shutting down. Make sure the following registry keys are OK.

Go to Start –> Run –> regedit
Find the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

On the right hand pane select NoSaveSettings and make sure its value is 0.
Secondly go to Start –> Run –> regedit
Find the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

On the right hand pane select NoSaveSettings and make sure its value is 0.

This will make sure that Windows is instructed to save settings while logging off or shutting down.


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31 responses to “Solution: Quick Launch Disappears After Restart In Windows”

  1. John

    This problem happened to me after installing IE 8.
    The registry changes worked a treat (I had to manually add new dword values)!
    Cheers,
    John

  2. John

    By dword values I mean that I had to add the keys and values not just modify the values. Hopes this helps anmyone else.
    Cheers,
    john
    http://www.activityvbookers.com

  3. Gabriel

    Finally someone got it right!
    This worked great for me, that issue was really annoying.
    You should give a heads up to the Google guys, I’ve seen some answers in official blogs and they have little idea on how to fix this.
    Cheers!
    Gabriel

  4. Gabriel

    Oh, like Jhon I also had to add those values.

  5. Colin

    I have also had this problem. I even tried copying the contents of the Quck Launch folder to a new folder under my User folder and adding that as a toolbar because it seems MS is trying to do whatever they can to get rid of the QL and I thought that might help. It still dissapeared after two or three reboots. It seems that NO user created toolbars will stick. I went into regedit (after backing up the reg) and looked for the entries mentioned above. but my “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer” key does not exist in-fact there is nothing under …\Policies whatsoever. I think this might have something to do with the problem. While “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer is there the “NoSaveSettings” is not. I first tried creating these keys (and folders in the first case) myself, like John and Gabriel above, but no dice, the toolbar still vanished after a reboot. I have noticed that if I change my desktop theme or background the toolbar will stick for at least one reboot. But after that it will still go away. I’m not sure if that means anything to anyone, but it seems like after a theme change W7 will save my settings but then it reverts my toolbars. Granted the regular selectable options dont change back, just any user created toolbars dissapear.
    Im running W7 64 bit Build 7100 and IE8.
    If there is anyone who can decode this please let me know!
    Thanks!

  6. Colin

    It looks like my text was getting cut off so Im re-posting with shorter sentances 😉
    I have also had this problem. I even tried copying
    the contents of the Quck Launch folder to a new
    folder under my User folder and adding that as a
    toolbar because it seems MS is trying to do
    whatever they can to get rid of the QL and I
    thought that might help. It still dissapeared after
    two or three reboots. It seems that NO user created
    toolbars will stick. I went into regedit (after backing up the reg) and looked for the entries mentioned
    above. but my “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer”
    key does not exist in-fact there is nothing under …\Policies whatsoever. I think this might have something to do with the problem.
    While “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer is there the “NoSaveSettings” is not. I first tried creating these keys and values myself, like John and Gabriel
    above, but no dice, the toolbar still vanished after a
    reboot. I have noticed that if I change my desktop
    theme or background the toolbar will stick for at least one reboot. But after that it will still go away.
    I’m not sure if that means anything to anyone, but
    it seems like after a theme change W7 will save my
    settings but then it reverts my toolbars. Granted the
    regular selectable options dont change back, just
    any user created toolbars dissapear.
    Im running W7 64 bit Build 7100 and IE8.
    If there is anyone who can decode this please let me know!
    Thanks!

  7. Colin

    Damn they still got cut 🙁

  8. Gabriel

    Well an update: I might have shouted victory too soon.
    This worked for me few a couple of reboots, but after that QL started to disappear again.
    Finally I uninstalled Google Desktop and the problem was gone.
    Gabriel

  9. Colin

    I’ve never used google desktop….

  10. Pavel

    I have the same problem as Colin. I edited the registry and added the missing keys, but its still not working. Dont have Google Desktop. Windows 7 build 7057

  11. Jakuza

    Delete this key in registry if you have.
    This is a malware (Hijack.DisplayProperties) entry.
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoActiveDesktopChanges

  12. Beaver

    Windows 7. 2 computers, the same problem. But, if you kill explorer proccess anr restart it – the quick lounch shows up.

  13. Beaver

    OK. Finaly I’ve fixed it!
    You need to disable wallpapper auto change. With the static picture quick lounch will stay after restart!

  14. jukemaster

    thanks for the info… I too had to manually add the dword values… Was on fresh install and everything was working fine.. then i ran windows update and things started to go awire… think it was about the time i updated to IE8 as someone else stated… havent tested but now i am able to simply launch quick launch after adding the two dword keys… before i was receiving a ‘cannot create quick launch’ error..

  15. Shade

    QuickLaunch toolbar conflicts with lenguage bar. I test it combination and find this reason.

  16. Maximorum

    @Jakuza
    That’s correct, has helped me a lot. Give it a try.

  17. Wizalex

    Any idea?
    I try to have “My Computer” on the taskbar (C: D: E: etc), but after restart has gone.
    Again and again…
    No idea. I install 3 windows7 PCs. Only mine do this.

  18. Nekro

    @Jakuza and @ Maximorum
    I did some research and it seems that most Version x64 systems – WinXP, Vista, and now Win7- all have this detected from Hijack this. However they recommend that you not delete this, rather you should add it to your Hijack this white list as a false positive.
    http://www.malwarebytes.org/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t7653.html
    So, my Quick Launch bar in Windows 7 x64 continues to disappear despite saving my theme. I’m questioning whether this will be addressed in a future update, or If we will find a true way around it.
    I’m curious to know if anyone has completely fixed this issue because I’m on a fresh install of Win 7 Ultimate x64 and have installed nothing but Windows Update yet still have this problem on restarts.

  19. mkhalid

    just make a new folder and create a new toolbar with the new path.

  20. Nekro

    @mkhalid
    That makes no sense to me.

  21. wizalex

    >>>just make a new folder and create a new toolbar with the new path.
    I did it and also gone after the restart.
    Seems that everything that i put there disappear after the restart.

  22. Mick

    Yes, if you rename “Explorer” the QL toolbar stays.
    Mick

  23. knox

    what about a solution for x32? Im using that atm and i only started getting this problem after i installed zonealarm and accidently did something to the taskbar. ie language as stated above

  24. r0untaz

    LANGUAGE BAR CONFLICTS WITH THE QUICK LAUNCH TOOLBAR,
    @SHADE GOT IT RIGHT…

  25. wizalex

    Why not happent to ALL computers?
    My PC, doesn’t has this problem, 3-4 months now.
    My laptop yes.
    Same instalation CD. In the office, the half computers lose the quick lunch.

  26. Behnam Ghiaseddin

    false positive or not, it cause this problem. First time I experienced this problem, I add those keys and remove this one. and QL problem had been solved. but this time the problem come again. I checked the registry and I find out those two key are still correct, but this NoActiveDesktopChanges returned again !

  27. PeterHammer

    Had the same problem. I found on the internet that saving the theme fixes this (right click on desktop, personalize, save theme), did for me (Windows 7 Home Premium). Hope it helps! Regards, Peter Hammer.

  28. Santaroga

    Here some info about this that may help… I have the same problem, win7 pro 32 bit with language bar no google desktop : QL disappear
    Win7 64 pro language bar no google desktop : QL does not disapear
    There is this official fix from Microsoft but you have to call in to get the hotfix and it is completely discretionary to them if they deem the solution fits you or not. In other words you may have to shell a whole bunch of doe to fix their bug.
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979155
    I tried this for myself and that did the trick. However it does disable an important feature regarding security so it is at best a work-around.
    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/299-user-account-control-uac-change-notification-settings.html
    This being said, my final solution to this problem will simply be a downgrade to XP or squarely move over to Ubuntu. I find windows 7 to be far too inconsistent for my taste.
    I need a system that works, for it to look good is a nice to have, so long as the good looking stuff does not get in the way, with 7 it’s always wait!-look-how-pretty-I-am. I have other things to do with my days than looking at my operating system.

  29. Ramin Mousavi

    Hi,
    The real secret to keep getting the QuickLaunch after restart is after setting the quicklaunch (and any other toolbar you want) is to save the ‘theme’ in the ‘personalize’ menu (right click the desktop).

  30. RDC

    I had tried the registry mod (adding the new DWORDs with 0 value), and saving the theme but to no avail. After doing all that, the only thing that solved it was to remove the language bar. Then, while still saving the theme after adding the toolbars for good measure, it finally worked. I have “my computer” with all the drives’ contents just a click away, and the list of apps I use on a regular basis.

  31. Stormy

    Solution is simple, LANGUAGE bar conflicts with quick launch bar. To fix, right click on LANGUAGE bar, and deselect ‘auto adjust’, reboot, and all should be fine.