I have a program running at startup in the taskbar and would like a desktop icon to maximise the program if possible. I would like a desktop icon for a friend who isn't familiar with using the taskbar and would be easier for him to recognise and operate.

I just want a desktop icon to maximise a program that is already running in the background, can anyone help?

Right click on the icon in the tray and choose / send to desktop as a shortcut, or fing the program in windows explorer and do the same process.

simple - teach him what to do. What you want to do requires the option to be written in during the programing

I am assuming you mean an icon in the System tray (next to the clock).

If so all I can suggest is that there may be a way of getting rid of the tray icon then starting the program from a desktop icon instead. This adds the advantage that the program only runs when you want it to.

If this is any use to you the main thing is to first establish which .exe file starts the program, so that you can make a shortcut to it. You then disable the tray icon from within the program's own control panel if the facility exists, otherwise "if you are on W98" then type msconfig in the Run box and disable it from startup there.

You don't give the name of the program so some experiment will be necessary, assuming that this solution suits your requirements.