Restore the Address Toolbar (Deskband) After Installing Windows XP SP3
As you know, Windows XP Service Pack 3 installation removes the Address toolbar (Deskband) in the Taskbar. According to Microsoft KB 951448, this change was made in response to an issue that was raised by a regulatory agency. Address band is a favorite item for most of us, and here is how to restore it back to your Taskbar.
There are third-party Address bar replacement tools to accomplish the task.
1. MuvEnum Address Bar - MuvEnum Address Bar is the ultimate replacement for the missing address bar in Windows XP SP3. It recreates the experience of the original address bar with auto-completion while adding many new features that allow you to quickly open webpages, navigate to favorites, start programs, search the internet, and more from you Windows Taskbar!
2. Niversoft - Address taskband replacement for Windows XP SP3 (direct download)
MuvEnum Address Bar required .NET Framework 2.0 to be installed in the system. So I chose install the 2nd one (Niversoft), which does not require .NET Framework.
Editor’s note: There is an unsupported tip circulating on the net on how to restore the Address band by copying an older version of browseui.dll to the Windows\System32 and the DllCache directories. That might make the system vulnerable!
Copyright © 2008 Ramesh Srinivasan. All rights reserved.
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November 18th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Yahoo!..thank goodness for accidents! And thank you Alan for letting us know.
BTW…Not sure if you’ve discovered this but after creating the My Computer toolbar, if you right click it>Toolbars and uncheck “My Computer” everything but the address bar goes away. Then you can drag that onto the Task Bar and wa la! Looks just like it back in the good old days. :-)
October 9th, 2008 at 7:34 am
OK folk, now for something to call into question the claims of MS.
While reorganising my desktop to take account of the disappearance of the Address Bar, I inadvertently dragged the “My Computer” icon to the top of the display. Guess what? A new “task bar”, for want of a better description. Not only that, but a right click opens menu options that allow for the addition of the Address Bar. Depending on your monitor size and resolution, you can either leave the address bar on the same line as the My Computer icons or drag it down to give it a complete line of its own. This Task Bar can be resized similarly to the original, but is stepless - you choose.
In light of this, and the fact that Vista still has the same options as the pre SP3 XP, is MS being entirely honest, or is it a “feature” that is now not spoken about but that we stumble upon by chance?
October 8th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I too am one of ‘US’, and have also been using it since Win98. Now using a 17″ monitor, 1920 x 1200 @ 96 dpi. Double height task bar, Quick Launch and Address Bar share one line while open app’s have the other.
But wait. If the SP3 change in XP was “in response to an issue raised by a regulatory agency”, how is it that Vista still enjoys this feature. That’s right, Vista Ultimate with SP1 still allows the Address Bar to be added to the Task Bar.
Go figure, as the saying goes.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I would think that it would be those that are running at 640×480, that would be so uptight about “screen real estate” that they would feel so great of a loss from having a double height taskbar. I have used the address bar ever since Win98. I’ve found it a lot more convenient than opening up a ‘run’ menu from the Start menu. In addition, it allows the ‘Start’ button to be moved out of the way, so that it gives you more space for application buttons.
It also allows me to put my quicklaunch bar on another line, so that it’s not in the way of the application buttons. It makes the system tray a bit narrower too. Furthermore, I think that an address bar makes more sense than having an undocked toolbar on the desktop. That’s just my opinion. I can see how a double high taskbar can interfere with full screen paint in VGA mode, though. It’s not for everyone.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Many thanks. What a relief. I installed Niversoft based on your recommendation and feel restored. As “I am US” commented, 15 years using this, and then gone. Like that. Now, back. :)
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 am
I love the address bar and was extremely annoyed when I updated to SP3 and found it was gone. What a load of crap.
1280×1024, dual monitors and the toolbar is at 3 height so I have open programs, two quick launch tool bars and then the address bar on the bottom. And a quick glance and i can see time, day and date at all times.
Thank you for linking to these replacements, I downloaded the second one and love it.
15 years in IT and I use it EVERY day. Much quicker to click there than having to hit “Windows-R” to bring up the Run dialog.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Using 1280×1024 with 106 DPI - Absolutely no problems here.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Using 2 bars is a horrible waste of desktop real estate. Let me guess, you’re also at 640×480 and wonder why you have to scroll back and forth.
It’s all about the 1600×1200 with font so small it’ll make the normal human eyes bleed.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:27 am
Well, I’m certainly one in “us”, and know many others who use this deskband. Note: Screen real estate (of the taskbar) has never been a problem for me as I set the Taskbar height to two rows.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:17 am
“Address band is a favorite item for most of us”.
I find myself wondering “who is ‘us’”?
In all my years in IT I’ve only seen a handful of people use the Address Bar in the Task Bar. Conversely, I’ve had many support requests to help REMOVE it.
Personally, I think it’s a horrible use of the ’screen real estate’ of the taskbar. It makes all the app bars too narrow.