Vista Forums
Vista Forums Home Join Vista Forums Donate Vista Tutorials Tags

Welcome to Vista Forums we are your forum to discuss Windows Vista x64 and x86 systems. Whether you need help or just want to post an idea you have on Vista, this is the forum for you.
Register at Vista forums...the world biggest Windows Vista resource Join Vista Forums Now

Go Back   Vista Forums > Vista Forums > Tutorials

Vista Tutorial Categories Network & Internet Tutorials File & Folder Settings Tutorials Taskbar & Start Menu Tutorials Performance & Maintenance Tutorials General Tips Tutorials Programs & Features Tutorials Context Menu Tutorials Shortcut Tutorials Security & System Tools Tutorials Parental Controls Tutorials User Account Tutorials Hardware & Drivers Tutorials Appearance & Personalization Tutorials Backup & Restore Tutorials Music, Photo, Video and Media Tutorials Power Management Tutorials

Thumbnail Previews on Taskbar - Enable or Disable

Update your Vista Drivers Update Your Drivers Now!!
Poll: Did this Tutorial help and work for you?
Poll Options
Did this Tutorial help and work for you?

Comment
 
Tutorial Tools Display Modes
<!-- google_ad_section_start -->Thumbnail Previews on Taskbar - Enable or Disable<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
Thumbnail Previews on Taskbar - Enable or Disable
How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Vista
Published by Brink
01-03-2008

How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Vista
Information
  This will only show you how to enable or disable the Taskbar open window thumbnail previews option for all user accounts on the computer. This is not available in the Vista Home Basic edition.
Tip
  If you wanted to turn the Taskbar thumbnail previews on or off instead, then see: How to Turn Open Window Thumbnail Previews On or Off for the Taskbar in Vista
WARNING
  You must have the Windows Aero color scheme turned on for the Glass Transparency, Taskbar Thumbnail Previews, and Flip 3D features. See: How to Change the Color Scheme in Vista

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR: WINDOWS AERO
See: Windows Help and Support: Troubleshoot problems with Windows Aero

NOTE: The Windows Aero color scheme is not available for the Vista Home Basic edition.
  • 1 GHz 32 bit or 64 bit CPU processor.
  • The computer needs at least 1 GB of RAM.
  • A graphics card with support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB of memory.
  • The graphics card must support Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware.
  • The graphics card driver must support Windows Vista Display Driver Model (WDDM)
  • The computer display color depth must be set to 32 bits per pixel.
RELATED LINKS:
EXAMPLE: Enabled and Disable "Show window previews (thumbnails)" Option
NOTE: You can see this by right clicking on the Taskbar and clicking Properties.
Name:  Enabled.jpg
Views: 2763
Size:  76.5 KBName:  Disabled.jpg
Views: 2754
Size:  75.2 KB

METHOD ONE:
Through the Group Policy Object Editor
NOTE
  This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Premium edition.
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on Turn off taskbar thumbnails and click Properties.

Click the image to open in full size.

6. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnails -
A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click OK. (See screenshot below step 7)
B) Go to step 8.
7. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnails -
A) Dot Enabled and click OK.
Name:  Properties.jpg
Views: 2725
Size:  57.7 KB

8. Close the Group Policy Object Editor window.
9. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.



METHOD TWO:
Through the Registry
NOTE
  This will work for all Vista versions except for the Home Basic version.
Through a Download:
1. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnails -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Taskbar_Thumbnails.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.


2. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnails -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Disable_Taskbar_Thumbnails.reg file.


3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

The Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5D)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NOTE: If you do not have Explorer, then right click on Policies and click New -> Key and type Explorer and press Enter.

5. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnails -
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value.
B) Type TaskbarNoThumbnail and press Enter.
C) Right click on TaskbarNoThumbnail and click Modify.

Name:  Registry.jpg
Views: 2713
Size:  95.0 KB

D) Type 1 and click OK. (See screenshot below)
Name:  Modify.jpg
Views: 2693
Size:  31.6 KB
E) Go to step 7.
6. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnails -
A) In the right pane, right click on TaskbarNoThumbnail and click Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click Yes to confirm deletion.
C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if TaskbarNoThumbnail is there to.
Name:  HKLM_Reg.jpg
Views: 2598
Size:  119.6 KB

7. Close regedit.
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
That's it,
Shawn

Published by
Brink's Avatar
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 16,735
Rep Power: 150
Brink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond reputeBrink has a reputation beyond repute

Tutorial Tools
Show Printable Version Show Printable Version
Email this Page Email this Page

Applies to
Home Premium,Business,Enterprise,Ultimate
64 Bit & 32 Bit

Comment

Tags
preview, taskbar & start menu, thumbnail

Tutorial Tools
Display Modes


Update your Vista Drivers Update Your Drivers Now!!

Similar Threads
Tutorial Tutorial Starter Category Comments Last Post
Thumbnail Previews on Taskbar Brink Tutorials 2 2 Weeks Ago 11:00 PM
Taskbar Toolbars - Enable or Disable Brink Tutorials 2 08-20-2008 02:08 PM
Lock the Taskbar - Enable or Disable Brink Tutorials 2 08-14-2008 07:35 AM
Taskbar Context Menus - Enable or Disable Brink Tutorials 0 05-12-2008 01:50 AM
Get Vista Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Windows XP Tiberius Vista General 6 06-10-2007 10:50 AM



Vistax64.com is an independent web site and has not been authorized,
sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation.
"Windows Vista", the Start Orb, and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media 2005-2008
Tutorial powered by GARS 2.1.8m ©2005-2006