I think I have found the reason for that reaction. With Windows 7, as soon as all the quick launch items are loaded, the quick launch section disappears. Basically, it looks like this. But, in reality, it is because the small icon gets replaced by the regular Windows Taskbar task display.

IAC, Windows allowed me to create another quick launch. This is something I find weird. On the new quick launch, I had the Windows Desktop desktop icon, the one that allows me to get the desktop, instead of having to move the mouse all over to the right and click on the little vertical line. But, I cannot move the desktop icon into the initial quick launch. Have you found a way to do this?