Make the Windows 7 Taskbar Work More Like Windows XP or Vista
The single most visible change in Windows 7 is the new “dock style” taskbar, which shows icons instead of buttons, with all application windows combined within a single button. I’m quite certain that the very first question many people will have is “How do I turn it off?”, and this article will show you how.
Note that I’m not advocating going backwards, I’m a fan of the new style and think you should give it a chance… but we’re all about giving you options, so here we go…
For those that haven’t already read our coverage of the Windows 7 Beta, this is what the new taskbar looks like:
Changing the Windows 7 Taskbar to XP/Vista Style
To revert back to the older style, the first thing you’ll need to do is right-click on any open area of the taskbar and choose Properties from the menu.
From the Taskbar buttons drop-down menu, you’ll want to choose “Never combine”, which will make every window show up as a separate button on the taskbar, or you could choose “Combine when taskbar is full”, which does just like it says.
Now you should see the buttons show up with text labels like you are probably used to… but in the Windows 7 style.
If you chose the “Use small icons” checkbox in the properties screen, the taskbar will actually shrink down to look very similar to Vista.
The only problem is that the “pinned” icons are still sitting on the taskbar, which isn’t the same as Vista or XP, but you can easily remove all of them by right-clicking and choosing “Unpin this program from taskbar”.
And now the taskbar looks and works very similarly to Windows Vista:
If you wanted to be really silly, you can choose the “Windows Classic” theme under the Desktop \ Personalize section… but that would be taking it a little too far, I think.
I strongly urge you to at least give the new Windows 7 taskbar a try… it takes a little getting used to, but it’s really a nice move forward. Does the new “dock style” taskbar work for you? Tell us in the comments.
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I love the new Windows 7 taskbar, been on the beta since the release. When I was at the office (on vista) I always wished I can make it work like Windows 7’s! It’s very intuitive!
This was the first thing I did after I installed 7. I don’t like the new Dock feature at all, I like to be able to see the titles of all my windows at once. It’s great that this settting exists. I like my Windows to look like Windows. If I really wanted a dock, I’d use Mac.
All ranting aside, that’s the only thing I don’t like about the new taskbar. Pinning programs and the new aero previews are really cool features. So, by changing the settings for a more “classic” taskbar, you get the best of both worlds.
I hate the dock style taskbar. Give me the windows style quick launch buttons and taskbar.
I’m 110% for the new style taskbar. It’s about time this was implemented. It cleans up the area nicely, and contrary to what some reviewers have said, it’s not confusing at all. It’s visually clear what programs are open, and if there are windows associated with it.
I feel the new dock-style taskbar is awesome! I find it very useful. It’s the best advancement in windows. Windows users have to adapt their habits to this new taskbar. But, it’s worth it.
It has a lots of cool new features such as loading is displayed on taskbar button itself. So, one doesn’t need to check back installation or any other progress repeatedly.
I like the new taskbar. it is just way too big by default. ‘use small icons’ and I love it.
The new taskbar is excellent! I want to see two things, however. 1 is proper multimonitor support. Microsoft has said in the past that they didn’t include a multimonitor spanning bar because there are so many ways to do it. I say, pick a default, and give us options like Ultramon does! (Here’s hoping Realtime Soft is better about UltraMon this OS cycle…Vista support is STILL beta. Not what I want for my $40)
2 is that I’d love to see added support for applications to control the previews, so we can have each tab show on mouseover in Opera or Firefox, and not just IE.
3) Ok, so 3 things, is the recent documents. I don’t want it to be a universal on-off switch, but controllable by application. As any male, teenage and onwards, will tell you, the recent used list is great for word, and for most things…but we don’t want it for our media player.
The new taskbar is OK. But what I really miss, is the Quick Launch behind the chevrons. In Vista, I stash so many programs behind those chevrons, if I would put them into the W7 taskbar, I would have a serious “overflow” situation. I think they should give us the Toolbars > Quicklaunch option back (I mean the hidden kind).
As someone who has yet to download the beta, here are the problems I see with the new taskbar:
1. What about people who have multiple shortcuts to the same program?
I have 3 VNC Viewer shortcuts that launch VNC Viewer to a certain computer and port.
At first I had them in a popup folder under the Quick Launch by using Free Launch Bar and now I use the Desktop Sidebar toolbar to display them.
I’m wondering if Windows 7 will treat shortcuts to the same program with different command lines as different taskbar entries or the same ones.
2. Taskbar grouping.
In Windows XP/Vista the grouping is according to program and that doesn’t make any sense to me as I use different programs for a task.
If I’m working on my web site I could have an SSH terminal open, a Windows Explorer window open and a web browser open and it would make sense to have those grouped together.
Just because I have a Windows Explorer window for my documents and one for my web site doesn’t mean they should be grouped together.
I don’t see anything the screen shots that shows the grouping is any different then Windows XP/Vista.
3. Taskbar Button Combos.
It seems like to get the shortcut/running program combo buttons on the taskbar, one needs to fill up the Quick Launch folder with shortcuts which seems to be a problem if I keep my shortcuts elsewhere like the sidebar as listed above but I suppose if the button combos are done right I may want to move some shortcuts back to the Quick Launch.
In summery: Because I haven’t tried the Windows 7 beta (due to being busy with other tasks), I may be missing something. It could also be that the combo buttons work great but the grouping is still a problem like I listed in which case I think Microsoft is going in the wrong direction with the taskbar as I think the grouping should be by task.
It seems to me that most people would want grouping by task too but maybe it’s just me.
I would be happy to read what others have to say about how they want things grouped.
my only complaint about windows7, and it’s nitpicky, is the taskbar is too thick. even when i use small icons. it just makes the icons harder to see and the taskbar only thins out by a few lines. but, i would 100% use windows7. even now i would consider it over linux.
I found this link while trying to find how to make my Windows Vista taskbar look like Windows 7. I am running Windows 7 as a dual boot, I would like my Vista machine to look like 7, I think anyone who has gotten used to the new taskbar wouldn’t want to go back. It is different, I think some people are just scared of different. I had already found out how to change it back to a Vista feel, I didn’t even try it, I knew I didn’t want it.
But this is good for anyone out there who doesn’t like the new taskbar.
Also I agree with some who thinks it is a little Linux inspired, but it is still very much a Windows Taskbar.
I like it so far…..takes some getting used to. I don’t see the point in trying out the BETA version or even getting it when it is released if you’re not gonna at least try out the new features.
I love the new taskbar, there are many other ways to get to ur favorite applications if you just know how. I am in no denial for change as long as it’s for better and this is much better than the clutter on vista/xp. I used to hate when the windows of the same application would group because it was harder to get to them but now with this new windows you can just get that little windows preview by leaving the mouse on the button or just press windows button+tab and scroll around ur windows (which is pretty too:D)
I’m downloading the beta right now. I’m not looking forward to the new taskbar, in XP and Vista I’ve always reverted everything back to classic mode. Call me strange, but I really like the Win 2K style. I’m sure I’ll learn to accept the new taskbar but I’m wondering how it works when docked to the side of the screen (instead of the bottom). I have a workflow that has been really fantastic for me with quicklinks at the top, normal taskbar buttons in the middle, then I have a custom taskbar pointing at a “working” folder then the systray and clock at the bottom. One of the reasons I didn’t stick with Linux is that all the window managers I tried either didn’t support or broke this functionality. I just don’t understand this push to fancy 3d, transparent animated user interfaces. I don’t think it really adds much to the experience. I gave up on my iMac for any real work because I found the dock to be impossible to work with. Then again this is coming from the guy that has firefox skinned to look like Netscape 4. hehe.
I hate the new taskbar. I want to see which documents are open all at once without having to alt/tab all the time. This needs to be an option in Windows 7. But I also want the quick launch ability. So MS needs to have a classic mode but keep the rest of the eye candy. It’s actually a dealbreaker for me without it. Unbelievably, I’d stick to Vista! I never thought I’d say that!
For those who say it’s resistance to change, I disagree. It depends on how you work. I like a lot of things about Windows 7 – mainly the eye candy, and speed.
For those who say you shouldn’t want to go back when you’re testing a beta, the point is to try the beta and see what you like and dislike, and say what you like and dislike.
If I wanted a dock, I would be using OSX.
The new dockbar is an eyesore and a pain to work with. The large icons are distracting and don’t offer enough information at a glance. The XP/Vista taskbar is fast, efficient and familiar.
It seems to me that they’re messing with a tried and true formula simply to justify marketing their new version.
I’m not certain why this change is needed. What I wouldn’t give for a windows XP that had the invisible infrastructure and worthwhile changes of Windows 7.
I dont like the windows 7 taskbar. for example when i use windows live messenger… the program has to open 3 tasks!! it has two tasks for the main window I DONT KNOW WHY! and one for the instant messeges…
the windows xp and vista taskbar is wayyyyyyy better!!!!!!!
From using it on a machine at work, I can safely say I hate the new dock (taskbar).
Why they think mixing up shortcuts for opening new instances of an application with buttons to access already running instances is a good idea is beyond me.
People talk of ‘clutter’ under xp, what clutter?
If you choose to install applications that fill up the system tray that’s not the XP design paradigms fault, its the user’s for installing the apps or not disabling the system tray icon.
My system tray has 4 icons (antivirus, IM, Bittorrent client and audio control), all are applications that do not often require their respective windows to be open very often at all (exactly why they having small system tray icons makes more sense than constantly having a minimized button on taskbar).
When you install applications you can choose where to place shortcuts, so if people have duplication on their desktop and quick launch it is both their own choice and incredibly easy to delete the redundant shortcuts.
Any decent application that puts an icon in the system tray as well as having a taskbar button can be configured to remove one or the other.
The visual changes are fine with me, the functionality is a huge step backwards IMO.
Its about choice.
Quite frankly they can mess it up however they like, so long as i can set it back to a double height, auto-hide taskbar, with one row being small icon shortcuts, and the other being buttons with text to select between open instances of apps.
There really should be a simple way to get back the XP layout of things for all explorer functionality; having the file|edit|view etc drop-down menus back where they should be at the top as well as the start menu for example.
I’ll get used to the colours and icon for the start menu etc being different in no time, so long as I can keep the functionality that works best for me.
If they can make changes that actually benefit me then that’s great, change for the sake of change or to give a ‘modern look’ does not entice me.
Its a lot like 2k to XP, the look is nicer/more modern, but I always disable ‘group similar taskbar buttons’, set it to windows classic folders etc. The changes all seem to be designed to appeal to people who dont really like or understand computers, and need to be spoon-fed directions every time they perform a task because they have no real understanding of the system.
That is not progress in my book, its UI paradigm regression.
Further to my previous comment…
When programmers change the most commonly used item of the interface, they have to give you the opportunity to revert to the old way.
The reason Microsoft and Windows gets so much attention is that for many of us it is our primary work tool. We use for many hours each day. So to change the most commonly used part of our work tool without giving us the option of going back to the old way is very intrusive and unfair, especially for a company that is almost a monopoly.
I hate thw new taskbar., I tried and tried and tried, but after 5 days I give up, back to Vista for me, also I am am sick of IE8 locking up one window it is almost un usable,
Just my 10 cents
in vista, xp, millennium, 2000, 98, 97 you could put that bar anywhere you want it, in windows 7 i m only able to put it in the task bar which is rather pointless, is their any way to reposition individual tool bars to various sides of the screen,
my usual setup on all previous versions of windows has been like this, my computer bar on the top of the monitor, desktop bar on the right side, i haven’t found a way o do this on win7 yet, any ideas.
“in vista, xp, millennium, 2000, 98, 97 you could put that bar anywhere you want it, in windows 7 i m only able to put it in the task bar which is rather pointless, is their any way to reposition individual tool bars to various sides of the screen,
my usual setup on all previous versions of windows has been like this, my computer bar on the top of the monitor, desktop bar on the right side, i haven’t found a way o do this on win7 yet, any ideas.”
Just drag the Taskbar to the side of the screen you prefer.
i hate windows 7 taskbar vista taskbar look bettler with the small icon in the quickluncg???
Hope, hate it! I can’t launch more than one instance of an application in Win7. In fact, there isn’t much I like at all about Win7. Just warmed over Vista themes which I dislike a lot! Why does Microsoft make it so difficult for user to alter or make their own themes. And I’m not talking about wallpaper and changing the transparency colors. I mean REALLY change the UI. I ‘might’ could tolerate Vista with a different UI or ‘Visual Style’. Windows 7 – a good reason to start looking seriously at linux!
Oh yeah, Win 7 Media Center has Waaaaaaaaaay too much eye candie. It totally bogs down my Dual Core 3Ghz CPU. Watching TV with my Hauppauge analog tuner is very jerky and Win7 Media Center doesn’t seem to be compatible with my HP Media Center remote control. When I press the STOP button on the remote control to stop a recording, it goes to the TV Guide without stopping the recording. ?? I was told that pressing the Record button again will stop it. Go figure! Why on earth would they change the function of the button on the remote?????????????
what i really prefer about xp and vista’s taskbars is the fact that you can fairly easily change the look from, say, default xp to win2k style, and you can essentially make the start bar look how you want, you can easily add quicklaunch/custom application launch bars. I personally prefer smaller icons and text on them naming the window or directory or shell or whatever, the oversized icons don’t show that at a glance and that loss of easily available info is a detriment (for me). i prefer to have tons and tons of concurrent windows/apps running, so the fact that win7 is aimed more at having under say, 7 separate apps running, isn’t preferable (imo). i really wish microsoft had released their icons with an even smaller icon set to make the ui elements smaller while still looking nice (scaling icons in xp makes them look like junk).
This new Mac look they keep trying to shove down our throats sucks. If I wanted a freaking Mac I would buy one. I work on Macs every day and they SUCK. I want my windows machine to look and feel like a windows machine.
Vista looked pretty nice, but this new taskbar they have is just plain UGLY. It’s a big step backwards.
Looks like I am just wading in with agreement here but Having just downloaded the RC of Win 7 I am finding the new taskbar a tad nasty.
The aero peek is nice, the look is nice but even following the example above the application instances are not truly un-grouped. If I have 4 Firefox windows and 2 explorer windows I cannot have it display 2 FF, an IE, 2 FF and the other IE. Trying to move one instance moves them all.
The Pin To option looked like a replacement for the quick launch until I realised it is all mixed up with the open items. Generally I have a double height taskbar with the quick launch icons on the bottom row and open windows on the top. This is no longer possible.
Not tried 7 yet but have tried vista and loathe it.
Does anyone know how to get the start menus in 7 behave a bit more like XP – opening sub menus in a new area to the right of the eixsting rather than covering the area to the left?
I have to say I agree with the comments on dumbing down – you could get the flashy look in XP just by changing default window colours.
Also- why does microsoft seem to hate menus with words like file, edit, tools etc? In versions up to XP, they were nice and obvious places to look if you needed to change a setting. Compare sound recorder in xp to vista and you’ll see a vastly dumbed down version in vista.
If you’re part of a helpdesk, it’s far easier to say to someone on the phone “choose Tools-options-” etc than to say “can you click the button that looks like a rabbit’s spleen” or whatever
I have been using the Windows 7 RC for a few days now and I have no problems whatsoever with the new taskbar. Infact I get rather disappointed when I use vista and it doesn’t have the same functionality. I have the task bar auto hidden and then if I am looking for an instance of say ie8 you just run the mouse over to it and you get the preview and then if you run your mouse over the previews every other window on the screen goes transparent to show you exactly what window you are about to click. In xp / windows 2000 if you have several ie windows open on the same website and many tabs in each window it was a trial and error method for finding the right window. This was a well thought out move by microsoft for once. People just need to get used to change.
I installed 7 RC like 2 days with a dual boot with Vista Business 64 and first I didn’t like the taskbar, but after testing it’s functionality is very useful. I love OSX and thought that the dock in 7 wasn’t all that useful compared to Dock+Expos but it really boost productivity.
I’d recommend to try it for a whole month before giving it a thumb down. Now that I’ve been using 7, I feel that Vista is lacking features.
Give it a try!
I read all of the comments listed before posting and say that Max comes closest to how I feel. While only disagree somewhat on how the newer modern look is really nice visually as it’s time has come, I agree wholeheartedly on all his other points. Although I can get use to the windows7 docking look, I would prefer to revert back to the XP classic ONLY with regard to the menu, because it is much more functional than Windows 7.
I echo Max’s logic sentiment…”There really should be a simple way to get back the XP layout of things for all explorer functionality; having the file|edit|view etc drop-down menus back where they should be at the top as well as the start menu for example.” There is a good bit of cluster with RC 7’s menu(s), whereas XP’s menu(s) were simple/clean and more logical, espcecially in a work environment.
Again, I love the newer GUI in most all other areas. I’ve been using the RC 7 for a week and really appreciate how quickly the drivers fell into place on my new Asus netbook (eeepc1000he) – fantastic! My hope is that the final release will put back in the option to revert back to XP for at least the menu options.
As mentioned by AdvancedK9 above, I am looking for a way to add a toolbar to the taskbar and then be able to move the individual toolbar to any edge of the screen. Ever since 1998, when Microsoft included it in a IE update, I have added the desktop toolbar to the taskbar and then moved only the desktop toolbar to the top edge of the screen. I then would have it auto-hide and remain on top of other programs. With this in place I would turn off show icons on desktop. This kept my desktop clean and free of any icons. When I wanted to select from the desktop icons, I would simply move to the top edge of the screen and my full desktop would appear. After selection, I would move down and the desktop would once again disappear. Again, I have done this for 11 years and I cannot figure out how to do this in Windows 7. I was able to duplicate it in Windows Vista, but can’t remember what I did.
I want my old Classic Start Menu..
THis only thing has always made me to stick to windows.
Because I can Customize is more and it is the most faster way of getting to some programes
Seriously I like Windows 7 its great improvement over Vista and something Vista should have been from the get go.
But YES me too I want Classic Start Menu option back.
While I think the change may work for some people, it doesn’t for me. I’m a web developer and I write all my html, css, etc. in scaled-up version of notepad. In XP I would have a quicklaunch icon for it and whenever i needed a new notepad document i would just click the quicklaunch button. The way it is now, when you open the program it overlaps the icon so I can’t bring up a new window quickly. It’s very annoying.
Like I said, this works for some people, but for several others it seems like the classic quicklaunch and taskbar would be preferred. Offer both I say!
Kyle: Try Shift+Click…
To users like Matt, I respect your choice in commenting how you like Windows 7’s new taskbar, but to say to others ‘just get used to change (in effect – get over it). I work in IT just like most other users on this board/forum. Change happens every day, every hour in the IT industry; but only if its constructinve change. I and other have realized that taking away the critical option of the ‘classic’ taskbar such as is in XP or Vista’s option to revert back to the highly useful and logical and sensible taskbar. Labeling the classic menu/taskbar was/is nomenclature for userful and quick, as opposed to the ‘Fisher Price look of the newer taskbar… Kudos to Microsoft for its cool look of most or all of the other features of Windows 7 and sometimes Vista. But to Microsoft I say just don’t take away a very useful and uncluttered classic menu array. Please add it back to the final resease of Windows 7. I like Linux as well but its not yet quite as userful as Windows in a lot of areas, but its getting there. Please don’t alienate users still faithful to windows by taking away the highly functional Classic menu for all of the reasons listed in this feedback forum, IF YOU ARE LISTENING. Thanks for your attention.
I have customized my taskbar and it now replicates Vista and XP’s taskbar. I’m working on a batch file that imports registry settings to convert anyone’s taskbar to what mine looks like, and also adds a quick launch bar.
I’ll explain how to get a Quick-Launch bar:
1. Right-click the taskbar and deselect “Lock the Taskbar”, then right-click it again and go to Toolbar > New Toolbar…
2. Create a folder where ever you want to save your Quick Launch shortcuts. For simplicity, name it “Quick Launch” (without the quotes). Open the folder then click the “Select Folder” button.
3. Now open the folder you just created in Explorer, then copy whatever shortcuts you want into this folder. They will show up in the task bar where you created the new toolbar! It should say Quick Launch on your toolbar somewhere, then your icons and their names.
4. To make the toolbar look like XP and Vista’s Quick Launch, find on the divider for the toolbar (unlock the taskbar if you can’t see it). Right-click this divider and deselect the options “Show Text” and “Show title”.
5. You’re finished! Your toolbar should look exactly like the familiar Quick Launch bar. You can then move the toolbar to where you want (perhaps to the normal Quick-Launch spot) and you can lock your taskbar if you prefer it that way.
Here’s how my taskbar looks:
http://i40.tinypic.com/30931wn.png
My layout has no pinned items. I moved all of my pinned items into the Quick Launch bar, like how I’m used to.
As I mentioned in my last post, I was working on a batch file to replace the grouped window icons with the old, XP/Vista-style taskbar. Here’s the file:
http://download162.mediafire.c.....askbar.bat
This file only runs in Windows 7 (performs an OS check). All it does is changes two registry keys to the opposite value (they are both Boolean):
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\TaskbarSmallIcons = 00000001
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\TaskbarGlomLevel = 00000001
The batch file also includes an uninstaller which consists of reverting both of these registry keys back to 0.
What each key does:
TaskbarSmallIcons – Gives you a smaller taskbar with the orb overlapping the rest of the screen similar to Vista, instead of being completely inside the taskbar.
TaskbarGlomLevel – Changes the grouping so that the windows do not turn into squares and overlap each other. They will still group if you have too many windows open. If you want to never group windows, change this value to 00000002.
I could live with the new taskbar, EXCEPT that I can no longer drag toolbars off of the taskbar to other sides of the screen.
I hate this default taskbar! Thanks man! Now it looks like vista!
I like it, its a nice change, and I see where the improvements are from classic windows, and I would be comfortable in using it in any role that I would need to use it in, however, this is probably due to me forcing myself to adapt to new UI’s,
If I buy a brand new sports car (windows 7) I don’t drive it like my old run down car (windows XP) do I?
I am an XP user; never had Vista but I like the Windows 7 taskbar. I like the option of turning the titles off. I like the way multiple copies of one program stack on top of each other and being able to hover the mouse over the icon and preview them and choose the one I want to open. I would like it better if it was easier to drag and drop a shortcut to the Quick Launch bar, but at least it can be done, you just need to have a steady hand. I would also wish the taskbar was a little bit narrower but that is a minor detail. I know I could choose the Classic XP setting and that would make the taskbar narrower. I like the “dock” style toolbar. I had something similar in XP by using the Quick Launch bar and leaving three programs visible on the taskbar.
I do not have any issue with people wanting a different interface. However those of you who do should give some of us older folks a bit more respect , we are not dead yet. Microsoft effectively taught us to use a classic style interface since Win95. Why do they have to make the lives of older people so much more difficult by insisting on taking the much loved and well used and understood options out of an OS just to pander to a small group of people who want to be at the bleeding edge. Having been a Corporate IT Manager I can tell you business does not like added training or re-training costs unless there is a significant dollar advantage in spending the money. Change is not welcome unless it makes you a whole lot more money.I don’t see W7 trebling my profit base- I just see it costing me more and therefore eroding my profit base what little is left of it. People have enough difficulty combining home and work and information overload already so this just adds to the fear and loathing and frustration I see in many of my clients. It is ruining the industry and we are getting the same sort of reputation reserved for used car salesmen. What IT needs more than ever is some sort of uniformity (ha! dream on me thinks) , an OS that can last longer than the conventional asset purchase investment cycle ie greater than 5 years and something that is easy to use. Having pretty icons and areo interfaces does not enthrall me with a feeling we are moving forward. What this current generation is very clever at doing is making things look pretty but very little substance and real progress lies underneath. We all still suffer from code bloat , developers put far less effort into uninstall routines for their product , Microsoft have made upgrading to W7 so attractive they have decided (idiots) that existing XP users will not be given the option to do that. Why on earth would any XP based business accept that outcome and reward Microsoft . Some of you people just do not live in a real world.
If you learn the concenpt it could works. However if not, I think this is a step back, this imitates one of the linux toolbars, and is good when you have the desktop effects on, I get a kdeish impression of the desktop.
But it must be an solution that allows me to let the taskbar behave as the earlier windows, especally in the classical mode. The new features and behaviour isn’t any confortable in the classical mode, it gets a very similar impression as a windows classic theme for “KDE”. It was amazing that I could reduce the very childish thickness to a bit normaller, but it requires a little handy.
I think Microsoft not should remove any earlier solutions of the concept, just leave it as an secondary option, which maybe could be chosen at installation to ease migration of workstations and desktops. New system concept can take LONG TIME to implement to the users, think which mess it did when Microsoft changed the office interface, it created a lot of confusion. Leaving it so without any alternates was a big mistake because the simplicitation of the interface did be confusing for existing users.
Otherwize new concepts is great.
I really want a theme pack that makes Windows 7 look like Windows XP.
I find the new taskbar to be a mess. Mixing program launching with the icons for running programs is not a good idea.
I favour a completely clear desktop, and in XP it was possible to undock the Desktop toolbar from the taskbar and dock it t the top of the screen. You could then turn off Desktop icons and have a completely clear Desktop. If you made them both auto-hide, the default state was a clear screen, with all your program launchers in a drop-down toolbar at the top of the screen, and all running programs in a pop-up taskbar at the bottom. This is my preferred way of working. Vista removed the option to re-dock the Desktop taskbar, but it was possible to work around it and achieve the same result.
Windows 7 has removed the work-around, so now I am being forced to go with the new, “improved” way of working. Why can users not have the choice to work as they see fit. I bitterly resent being told that the way I am used to working is somehow wrong. I have no problem with the new style being the default option, but it should be an option, with backwards compatibility so that those who chose can continue to work as they wish. Gratuitous changes to the UI do not necessarily result in the productivity improvements that they are presumably intended to produce, and should never be forced on the user with no backwards compatible alternative provided.
i HATE the taskbar, vista looked great, it just didnt work as well as xp, id rather have the vista sleek black bar than the fat clear ugly 7 bar. thanks a million, i was actually considering not upgrading at all because of the awful look of the 7 taskbar. many other things in it look good though, accept the huge pointless preview window (also better in vista) and from the sounds of it, the perfect, simple “run in xp mode” doesnt exist anymore.
i was also wondering about the cool 3d window scrolling “switch between windows” thing in vista, is that in 7 or do i have to use that awful mess of clear outlines??
at least i can count on the community to eventually provide a theme to make 7 look like vista. Will most vista programs run in 7 or does it include a run in vista mode, or will i just have to wait for all my programs to be made available and save hundreds of dollars to buy the 7 version of those programs?
i want my shortcuts to go to diff hd’s /partitions accordingly and immediately, not some rightclick menu or a leftclick that pops up ‘libraries’ . the pinning option fails.
If anyone knows how to make videos in WMP not have the audio be ahead of the video, let me know.
It doesn’t happen in WMM though.
Windows classic is best, newer versions are for children who likes bright colour and figures.Classic is simple and ther is nothing “futile”.
I just installed 7 and I’m trying really hard to give it a chance. I hate the 7 taskbar. Glad I can make it a little more like Vista’s, which was ok. I’ve hated the taskbar since Win 95 came out, and I still hate it. Of course, I’m not really fond of Windows/Mac OS/any GUI in the first place, but it has become a necessary evil. Speaking of which, why does MS have to keep making Windows look more and more like a Mac OS? I’d have bought a Mac if I wanted Apple to own my soul. Grrrr.
Still browsing the W7 how-tos… The one “feature” I’m really not fond of in W7 is the explorer. MS has murdered the functionality of explorer! I don’t need all that “homegroup” and “favorites” mess! I just want to see my drives and the directories they contain. That’s right directories, not “folders.” I miss DOS.
At least there’s always linux.
Thanks for the help. I can’t stand the new taskbar, precisely because it’s like an OSX dock, which I find annoying [I use OSX Tiger iMac and Vista Dell at work]. I always find the dock in the way, and it becomes easily cluttered. The W7 “dock” looks hokey, in any case, and I find it hard to find the right thumbnail window.
I like icons, and was hoping W7 might finally offer variable-sized icons.
Thank you.
I still have one question, and I haven’t been able to find anything to help me with it so far. Is there a way to remove the padding at the bottom of the right click menu, when you right click something in the taskbar? I keep missing close and clicking the padding instead, because I’m used to right clicking and then left clicking, without having to move the mouse.
Use VirtuaWin for multiple desktops, and throw Win 7 back to vista style taskbar. Ditch the quick launch, use launchy.
If multiple monitors – ultramon.
You’ll get a lot more work done!
The lack of choice is frustrating. I like a clean, simple interface. I don’t want transparent windows and I loathe giant icons, particularly when they remove text from the equation. I want my Windows7 to look exactly like XP but function faster, that’s it. Seems like a simple request. Please Microsoft, keep messing with me, I’ll switch to…well, just about anything at this point.
The new task bar is pretty stupid and annoying. I think they took this dumb idea from apple.
Get over it babies, wah they changed. my life has ended.
The new taskbar is a piece of crap.
It’s the more unlogical thing the pinnep icons that moves when you open another pinned icon.
The objectve of an icon fixed in taskbar was the quick access, if it moves when you open a lot of things, you have to search the icon before click it to open, it could be anywhere in taskbar….
the dock style would be fine for me if i double click the icon on the toolbar, and then it pops up a previously minimized window. it sucks if i want to read a page i just minimized, and theres so many webpages i have opened
I am SO going to do this. I am not a fan of the new dock-style taskbar! Here is a link on how to add the Quick Launch Bar to the Taskbar: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto.....windows-7/
I used to have this side bar in windows XP that would allow me to make it function like a giant hidden quicklaunch bar on the right of my screen….
I miss that. Windows 7 has it deliberately removed and it’s not possible to get it back. I don’t care for that at all. Why remove a feature i know some of us will miss? Seriously, i would drag a folder over, then *bloop*… new task bar. Where is this feature?
I am sorry, but Vista just dumbed down and 7 is even dumbed down more. It’s like the difference between tying your own shoes-then going to velcro! If you are really that stupid, maybe you shouldn’t even have a PC! Everyone talks about how dumb Americans are, but more and more, they chose to be spoonfed rather than learn something! Most people I know can’t even drive a stick shift! Take a moment to learn something! I truly enjoy having control of how my PC looks and behaves. I like having to go to network connections and setting up a network. I enjoy going to printers and preferences, same with my scanner…my monitor-everything! But sure, keep the people dumb and lazy-MUCH easier to control them this way! Guess the people who love 7 also loves the idea of the individually wrapped hotdogs! What a waste! Pay someone to do something for you on the computer!
I want to know when are they going to learn to come out with 2 versions of Windows. It would be the same as saying, “We have stick shift or we have automatic.” Then everyone could be happy. All they need to do, is extend support for XP and some of us would be very happy campers! It’s stable, easy to work with, room for lots of fun!
If they do not do something like this when support for XP runs out, when I get my new PC built, it’s will NEVER see Windows! I will customize a Linux build and screw MS!
Give it a chance…HA! Vista was bad enough, and now I watched all these 7 videos and just shaking my head and embarrassed for MS and America. Check out what Germany and some other European countries are doing against this “overtake”. I am with them ALL THE WAY!
P.S. Something I forgot to say…Knowledge is power! So learn and demand more and have more self respect. This dumbed-down crap that’s going on these days is an insult to my intelligence!
I like the new taskbar, its really helps me out with multitasking and developing. I don’t fell like changing it.
Thank you. I changed it to look like Windows XP and I love it.
I hate the new taskbar, i often have hundreds of tabs open and find the new docking method just gives me a headache actually trying to find what i have open. Often found myself going through the little docks endlessly trying to find a particular open program or doc.
Without descriptions like in vista its just a headache.
thank you for your responce, i’m afraid i’m getting old and hate change , of course everytime windows changes it is a new challenge to everyone that wants to put out a virus, but i really do feel more comfortable with what i’m familiar with. thanks again for the responce
i LOVEEE the new taskbar and the idea but, i like the look of the vista taskbar more. i like the color and organization much moree.
For some reason, I love the Windows Classic/2000 Theme
I love this thread,
I never really paid attention to Vista and was convinced to peek an Win7:
The new taskbar is a culture shock. I dragged in XP the taskbar to the right
side and made the Desktop one additional “symbol bar”. Now, XP shows me on
the right border about 20 program icons to click on and ca. 10 running (ungrouped)
tasks. I mean big icons!
Just try to accomplish this in the Win7 “superbar” without any trouble.
It’s not “silly” to use the Classic taskbar. What’s silly are the fancy colors and effects that have crept into Windows over the years. They are pretty but useless. The Classic taskbar is for people who have work to do and aren’t playing around.
Windows 7 is not really faster than xp so I will stick to win xp for atleast until sp1 for win7 because it is just full of errors and bugs atm … its just not here yet – too new
win 7 has only advantage that ist a bit faster than xp
and yeah i was wondering if there is a way to make win7 taskbar look like xp or vista one but it seems it do really suck because you can’t after all you did is still shitty “super” taskbar my ass I just want old one!
the closest is of course windows classic one on win 7 but I want it skinned just like now I’m using vista skin on xp and its ok
I hate the new taskbar. Why have Microsoft removed the ability to create custom toolbars, from folders, and place them all around the screen borders? Any toolbar you make now, resides on the taskbar and cannot be undocked. With most people using widescreen monitors now, the taskbar should have been redesigned to be a side bar. And a useful sidebar too. A larger than normal bottom taskbar just makes everyone’s widescreen monitor look even more ‘letter boxed’. Blooming awful!!!!
The new look and feel and eye candy again is the most stupid thing. A computer, for me, is an instrument to get my work done. And, I want to get my work done F A S T and efficient. Time and again M$ screws around with the GUI. Will try the tricks here to go back to Win XP look and feel or will have my new laptop downgraded to XP.
Coming back from Ubuntu after 1 and a half year. Loving the dock style bar. They took too long to realise.
I’ll be reverting to classic mode Step #1. I don’t understand the desire for an improved bar. People just need to learn how to use computers, instead of throwing up their hands and waiting for the pretty UI to come along and tell them how they want it.
For those who love the eye-candy.. and 1/8th of their screen disappearing when they hit Start… fine.
But for someone like me, who has 4 folders nested under programs, all logically laid out, it’s a total pain.
With Classic Menu’s, it was Click, slide, slide, click… and I’m working or playing.
With the new menu, it’s click, hover or click on All Programs, then click on a folder to open, then click on another folder to open, then click on my program. I guess I could pin all 86 programs to the box, but that’s a pain, and I don’t use any one program with any regularity. And I’m not really thrilled with the idea of the clutter.
The whole issue would be moot if Micro$oft would give people a choice between keeping it small and simple, or as large and complicated as people would want to make it…
Oops! Sorry… Micro$oft giving people a choice… what was I thinking?
I can’t used to the new way tasbar works. I really miss the seperate space for icons-shortcuts and the space for opened windows-programms. Any ideas how can I have the old xp-style taskbar in w7 ?
Thank you for the help. It took about 20 minutes for the new style to drive me nuts, and I switched back to the classic theme. Getting the old program tabs in the taskbar is the last step I needed for that restoration project.
Now, if I could just get the old Win2k style start menu back.
If you where talking about the Classic Start menu, just right click on your task bar and go to the Start Menu tab. Click on the radio button that says “Classic Start menu” and click OK. This will revert the Start menu to the classic Windows 2000 or older look, removing the right column and the search bar.
Just installed the Windows 7 Home Premium. The taskbar is causing a huge annoyance for me. I am using the computer as a HTPC and thus watch movies in full screen. When I try to do this in Win 7, the taskbar stays on top and I have not figured out how to disable the “always on top” property. The best I can do is autohide, which is not good for other full screen programs like games. Also, the autohide still leaves a thin, yet extremely annoying, white strip at the bottom of the LCD TV.
Any help PLEASE!!! Looks like I am going back to Linux if this does not get fixed quickly. And yes, for a HTPC, this one item is a deal breaker for me. When will Microsoft realize that we are not little kids and let us make the operating system and its features work they way we want them to? Hopefully I am just missing something and someone here can set me straight. If so, please do, I am really hoping I am wrong about this.
I gave it a try, but I simply cannot gat used to it. How can someone call this a better solution if the only thing it adds is an extra click to acess ANYTHING?
Instead of clicking directly on what I want now I have to click the icon, then waste time looking for the right window and then clicking AGAIN for it to open up…
The problem I have with the new taskbar is there’s no text. I like to be able to see the titles of my windows. Sometimes I work with programs that have unrecognizeable icons, so having to mouse over just to see what’s what is a pain in the butt. Call me lazy, but when you are working with computers all day, it makes a huge difference in productivity.
I wouldn’t say it is ‘Silly’ to go backwards in any way, I’d easily see many people going to Classic or an XP-like desktop in every way just to make it so at the very least their desktop doesn’t drain any bandwidth, for those obsessed with having their PC or Laptop working at its finest all the time so nothing drags the programs down, even by the slightest bit. Optimizing by the smallest detail to get a bit more performance.
On my taskbar button settings I have it set to
‘Combine when the taskbar is full’
I like this because it still shows the name of the app open and I dont always want it to group it. But something that bothers me is that on XP when it would group them, it listed the number of windows it had open in the taskbar.
I play a lot of tables at once and with that number I could always tell how many tables I have open but now with Win 7 I can’t figure out how to get it to list the number of windows open in a grouped application
.
Is there a way to get this to work?
Hi,
I could not find the last step, where I could change the whole interface to Windows Classic,
Could you please tell me the steps in how to find it? Thanks
Hello , i changed the windows 7 taskbar to the old taskbar and was wondering how to revert back to windows 7 taskbar?
I don’t like the new taskbar it’s really annoying how they change stuff without giving you a clear option how to change it back to normal. THANKS alot for your help.
It’s very simple if you love the new Windows 7 taskbar then you might had a pc for not more than 3 years, and if you don’t like it you are veteran like me more than 10years. It’s useless to comment why the new taskbar is worst than of the old one because if you know something about computers you would see it right away with no need of commenting it! So Microsoft next time you make a new OS please hire someone that has at least 5 years of experience with computers unless you want create another FrankenTaskbar like this! The only reason I still hold on to xp is because of how quickly I move things around on taskbar and on windows explorer, even if Windows 7 is way faster than xp after using for 2 hours W7 I feel so tired like I have used xp for 10 hours!
The new taskbar sucks. It makes finding the quick launch icons very hard in between all the open tasks. Basically, Microsoft made 200% sure that Lose7 would be HARDER to use than any of the previous versions. If you are considering upgrading XP/Vista, reconsider and wait until MS decides to fire the idiots designing their user interface. Each step they take, they move 10 steps backwards.
The only people that like this garbage are the reviewers and the MS fans.
I love the new taskbar, except for one thing.
i think that the docking is a great thing!!! BUT i miss the old bar that was next to the start menu that had all my favorite programs under it that all id have to do is click it and there they were.
with windows 7, i took ALL of my previously pinned items OFF of the taskbar for one reason
they look exactly like the programs i am currently running the way they are on the taskbar. i cant figure out a way to make them look different, tell them apart, or anything. help would be appreciated if theres any way to. but ive looked everywhere, and sadly have fell short of any solution.
nice try Windows. Nice docks, but bring back the old pinned items look!
I am silly
I absolutely hate Win 7 – I hate everything about it. I cannot find my Word templates. i had to install my own Word program because Win 7 does not have it and now they won`t let me near my templates. XP worked but the fascist Gates had to ruin it. it`s what he does to everything.
This thing would have to go to school 15 years to work its way up to crap!!!!!
why is Word such an enemy of the stateÉ
I want a windows so I can do my data work: small thousand files a day and some secured networks or emails. I have no time to play with videos and pictures. Windows 7 is the worst! Who has the time to view the new feature on windows 7 while that person is working? This windows really made me mad because I could not find the old vista or XP old setting (I have not talked about the MSoffice 2007 yet). I removed most feature from my new windows 7 at work and I had a big fight with IT people (they thought virus attacked my computer and they removed my admin account). Really bad windows 7! Now all I can do is to work 20% slower. Wish I can go back to windows 98 or even a unix workstation!
Well I don’t like windows 7 I hate the menus. I love the drag and drop and right mouse button in XP this appears to be missing in windows 7. The taskbar is hopeless for quick lurch. I want I want quick lunch menu on the left programs running centre and a no nonsense notification area on the right. I want to be able to move the show desktop button/icon where I want it. Don’t want start on file placement and allocation on the hard drive. If I started up the computer in administration mode I want full control over everything and I mean everything.
Just encase Microsoft come across this site and thread.
When a program builder builds something its simple for the builder to understand, ask the builder to understand why others cannot understand what the builder as built, the builder want be able to understand why know one understands the build.
In other words don’t let your program builders demonstrate the software.
If one needs a manual for a piece of software just to use the key functions it’s not good enough.
If i wanted a Macintosh I’d just buy a damn Macintosh.
Call me silly if you wish, but there’s no cleaner interface than “windows classic”. It’s the first change I make to any new computer.
Hi If any one would like to use the Quick Launch toolbar for Win 7 then right click your taskbar, unlock it, right click again and select toolbars then new toolbar and in the folder window type %userprofile%\Appdata\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch This will enable the Quick Launch toolbar….. I had this option running on my PC but have just decided to pin all my quick launch toolbar shortcuts to the Start menue and turn off the quick launch toolbar, it was opening slowly with the amount of shortcuts I had there… This is just my toughts on this problem and I hope it will be helpfull to those that read this post……. Budds
I have several ASUS EEE PCs and I really need this feature ON /ALWAYS ON TOP/, since it allows me to use the netbook screen more efficiently /it has a really small display/. M$ will push be to turn back to WinXP. I wonder if there’s a registry record or something else that could enable the program windows to show OVER the taskbar?
The new taskbar in windows 7 takes a congested desktop area and turns it into a pile-up. The mixing of running programs icons with pinned programs (not running) takes an already congested area and makes it impossible. Microsoft has been slowly eating way at the amount of desktop toolbar space, each time shoving more and more into the taskbar.
I believe it was Windows XP and before when Windows had a customizable toolbar that you could place at the top of the screen (I think it was called the Office Toolbar). Between this toolbar and the Taskbar with quick launch, everything was spaced out so things could be easily accessed and there was some flexibility in how you set things up. Starting with Vista, however, the Office Toolbar was removed and everything had to go into the Taskbar. Vista does allow you to create your own toolbar even though it is void of features and design. But now with win7, everything is crammed into the Taskbar making the area so cluttered that users that work with several programs and documents have limited maneuverability.
So they removed the additional toolbar (Office Toolbar), added to Taskbar clutter by doubling up icons for running programs with penned programs and replaced Taskbar program shortcuts with the less functional pinned program. Remember, pinned programs on the Taskbar reduces functionality (rather than improving it) because all the penned icon can do is open the program. However, using a shortcut in the Taskbar (as in XP) allows me to use all the features that a shortcut offers, such as viewing program properties to quickly check a program version, creating additional shortcuts – it will even transfer you to the program file if need be.
So, when I’m working, the Taskbar is so full there’s no open space on the bar to right click to bring up a context menu. That wouldn’t be such a big deal if Start Task Manager wasn’t part of that menu. But it is and to access it (when the Taskbar is full) you have to use the Control-Alt-Delete when something’s not responding, to get to Task Manager.
Reducing the number of toolbars, mixing everything together in one taskbar and using pinned programs instead of shortcuts all result in reduced functionality, reduced productivity. This cannot be change with the user in mind, but something Microsoft had to do to make other changes work. It is as several people have already mentioned a big step backwards for users.
Beyond that, I love Windows 7. However, after spending a year struggling to get Vista to work on a new system that gave me no choice of operating system, Windows 7 should work. I’d have been a lot happier if they’d just skipped Vista and let us use XP until Windows 7 was ready. The cost of Vista in lost time and money only served to subsidized Microsoft after introducing a buggy Vista. So, yes, I expect Windows 7 to work as well as it does because I’ve paid the dues. For me, Microsoft either had to introduce an OS that worked as promised or I was headed toward Apple.
No other industry gets away with shipping a defective product and then playing catch-up to repair or replace it. Sadly, Microsoft is not the only publisher that does this. It’s time for software publishers to wake up and recognize that this is the 21st century and the computer business is no longer new. It’s had plenty of time to move from the buggy stage and start delivering product that’s been vetted for bugs and works as advertised.
I reckon the Windows 7 taskbar is way too confusing, and it’s counter-intuitive too. Unfortunately there still isn’t a way to drag, for example, the Firefox icon in between two Windows Explorer icons, so I think I’ll just have to try to get used to Windows Se7en’s way of doing things…
By the way, using 4:3 resolutions on a 16:9 or 16:10 screen in Win7 is definitely improved, as the image doesn’t stretch the whole way. It makes playing newer games with a poor graphics card more enjoyable as the picture isn’t stretched and distorted
The task bar is to big. When you combine the wasted space of the title of the program and then the blank space all the way across the top of your screen, add the doubled size of thew task bar,,your losing close to 10% of screen estate. I know,,youll say “just make the task bar non viewable when not in use,,well alot of us like to have it viewable at all times. My suggestion is to combine the “file-edit-view-tools-help,,,etc” buttons with the very top title bar,,add those buttons to the right of the title and keep the task bar one small icon high and BAAM,you get your 10 to 15% screen estate back. Dont worship me for this idea,,just implement it!!
I hate the way Microsoft now forces you to use the taskbar by application rather than by TASK. I.e., if I’m in the middle of something, and I need to launch another application, I don’t want it grouped with the other applications I may have open, but on the far right, like it always is.
Oftentimes, I’ll have several TASKS going at once, which used to be grouped together. Now, they’re all jumbled up by application. I have to wonder, why did I have THAT application open??? They should call it an application bar not a task bar.
Have used win7 now for 2 months. Prefer XP quick launch. Got close to it by adding a folder on the desktop called “ahha Quick Launch”, dropping programs/shortcuts into it, and then pinning “ahha Quick Launch” folder to win7 taskbar as 1st item. BTW first item in folder “ahha Quick Launch” shows also in taskbar. I put shortcut to file explorer to c:\ as 1st item so I can navigate the drive (use underscore _ prepended to shortcut name and then sort by name to get _ entry as 1st one.)
For programmer- for work really annoying to not see the titles of windows in taskbar, I really don´t have any need to always go with cursor about some icon to see what is hidden inside. The new events are realy too hidden so it is just waste of time and it can be used just for the effect
Thank you thank you thank you. I have been using Win 7 for 2 months and the dock style taskbar was driving me nuts — I wish I could turn off the dock on my Mac, too. I do alot of switching between windows and not being able to have them seperated made everything harder to do. BTW, I am the person who on the first boot up changed my desktop theme to Windows Classic.
TX.
At least Vista lets you set it up in the classic mode turn off anoying thumnail windows or whatever I was a mac user all throught the 90s work computers were all pcs so i was famillier when windows xp came out my favor turned to pc for speed familiarity and much more program compatibillity than my mac so i got more advanced and windows vista came out wich really opened up a door to more powerfull machines and more 64 bit support and better gaming dont get my wrond i think 7 is a solid os but the UI is not of ease for my the start menu hides my 487 programs that i can find instantly with the classic start menu and personally i think it is generic i tried the beta and hated every second of use though it was easier and faster to install so stupid me I bought the full version and instantly had buyers remorse after buying it i ran it for 3 months and went back to vista if the start menu could be changed like previous versions and the stupid taskbar previews could be shut off and the windows were not still transparrent when maximized very lame by the way if i want to see my desktop i would not maximize the window and the taskbar buttons really are ugly and not colorfull vista works fine for me and has for the past 5 years and so did xp 7 made my computer so hard to use i almost pitched it out the window and went back to a mac Not Cool Microsoft
Thanks to KnifeySpooney for brining back my quickbar links… HOWEVER I now find that [WindowsKey]+[1] now minimises/maximises task #1. In previous versions of windows it would launch quick link # 1. Why is it keyboard shortcuts are first casualty of version upgrades? Must be a new generation of teen programmers who just think mousing is the only way to launch stuff. This might sound like a minor gripe but I usually find I have to relearn or reprogram a bunch of shortcuts every time and still annoyed by Vista flakey supportt of the [Alt]+[Space] then [x] combination to maximise windows (though seems to be working better again in W7)
I was getting headaches for not been able to figure this one out. I CAN’T stand the “Dock Style” version of the taskbar.
Thank you for posting.