Windows 7 icon box at top of screen?

i just got windows 7 and when i first turned on my new computer there was a icon box at the very top with a media icon, security icon, internet icon, and i believe an email icon(and a couple of others). so anyway the box is gone now and i want it back. does anyone know what it is called so i can read up on it or even better does anyone know how to turn it back on.
Thanks for your time guys,
Tim

 

[tblount]

That is sidebar that came from your pc maker, My wife had one on her laptop and it disappeard but I got it back, I fogot what I did though. Look for sidebar.