Vista - Thumbnail Previews on Taskbar - Enable or Disable

   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.

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.

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off taskbar thumbnails and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnails

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnails

A) Dot Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close the Group Policy Object Editor window.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

1. To Enable Taskbar Thumbnails

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Enable_Taskbar_Thumbnails.reg

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Taskbar Thumbnails

A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.

Disable_Taskbar_Thumbnails.reg

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

7. When done, you can delete the .reg file if you like.

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5D)
NOTE: If you do not have Explorer, then right click on Policies and click New -> Key and type Explorer and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

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 on Modify.

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

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 on 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.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.