Revert to WinXP Taskbar

[Dell Christopher]

Is there a settings option, or some downloadable utility, that will allow me
to change the look of the Win7 taskbar? I really prefer the original Quick
Launch look and the wider taskbar boxes to show open applications.

Thanks!

 

[Bruce Hagen]

Is there a settings option, or some downloadable utility, that will
allow me to change the look of the Win7 taskbar? I really prefer the
original Quick Launch look and the wider taskbar boxes to show open
applications.

Thanks!

I Want My Quick Launch Toolbar Back!
http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2009/01/12/the-bumper-list-of-windows-7-secrets.aspx

CSMenu:
http://www.csmenu.com/

Vista Start Menu:
http://www.vistastartmenu.com/index.html

 

[Stan Brown]

http://blogs.msdn.com/tims/archive/2009/01/12/the-bumper-list-of-windows-7-secrets.aspx

Tip number 5 on that page is to shift-right-slick on a folder to
bring up a context menu that includes "open command prompt here".

When I just plain right-click on a folder, the context menu includes
"open command prompt here". When I shift-right-click, it includes
"open command prompt here" and "open command window here". The two
LOOK like they do the same thing, but what is the difference between
them?

I've got Home Premium, in case that matters.

 

[Bob I]

Tip number 5 on that page is to shift-right-slick on a folder to
bring up a context menu that includes "open command prompt here".

When I just plain right-click on a folder, the context menu includes
"open command prompt here". When I shift-right-click, it includes
"open command prompt here" and "open command window here". The two
LOOK like they do the same thing, but what is the difference between
them?

I've got Home Premium, in case that matters.

Sounds like you "installed" something to create the "open command prompt
here" entry. The "Open command window here" entry is the Win7 default.
So the difference could be nothing, but could be whatever the settings
are due to the method you used to create it.

 

[GTS-NJ]

To change the task bar to the captioned wider buttons, no third party
software is required. Right clock on the task bar and select properties.
Change the Taskbar buttons setting to Never Combine.
(Bruce gave you the answer re. Quick Launch.)

 

[Student]

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/add-the-quick-launch-bar-to-the-taskbar-in-windows-7/

 

[Dell Christopher]

Thanks for the replies. Very much appreciated!

 

[XS11E]

Is there a settings option, or some downloadable utility, that
will allow me to change the look of the Win7 taskbar? I really
prefer the original Quick Launch look and the wider taskbar boxes
to show open applications.

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

 

[Ken Blake]

Is there a settings option, or some downloadable utility, that will allow me
to change the look of the Win7 taskbar? I really prefer the original Quick
Launch look and the wider taskbar boxes to show open applications.

Not to try to talk you out of your preferences, but let me point out a
couple of things:

1. If you drag the task bar to the left or right side of the screen
instead of leaving it in its default position at the bottom, the boxes
can be as wide as you want them to be. Just drag to your preferred
size.

2. With today's wide-screen monitors, I think having the task bar on
the left or right side of the screen makes better use of screen real
estate than having it on the bottom.

3. When I first started with Windows 7, I also missed having the Quick
Launch Bar. But having used the "Pin to Taskbar" option for quite a
while now, I like it better. The reason is that each icon on the task
bar is always in the same place, whether it's an open running
application or a shortcut to an application that isn't running yet. So
if I click on the sixth icon down, I will get Quicken, whether or not
it was already opened. I find that a real convenience.

 

[XS11E]

2. With today's wide-screen monitors, I think having the task bar
on the left or right side of the screen makes better use of screen
real estate than having it on the bottom.

Or better yet, avoid wide screen monitors like the plague! The normal
type is readily available, check NewEgg and Amazon.

 

[Char Jackson]

Or better yet, avoid wide screen monitors like the plague! The normal
type is readily available, check NewEgg and Amazon.

I like wide screen displays better and don't consider them to be
abnormal in the slightest. In fact, their popularity has made them the
new normal.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I like wide screen displays better and don't consider them to be
abnormal in the slightest. In fact, their popularity has made them the
new normal.

You must like the plague, then

Just kidding - I prefer the wide-screen monitors too, but I haven't yet
managed to be comfortable with the task bar along the side of the
screen.

 

[Ken Blake]

You must like the plague, then

Just kidding - I prefer the wide-screen monitors too,

As do I.

but I haven't yet
managed to be comfortable with the task bar along the side of the
screen.

Like almost anything else that's different, it takes some time to get
accustomed to. Run it that way for a few weeks and you'll probably be
uncomfortable if it's on the bottom.

 

[R. C. White]

?Hi, Ken.

if I click on the sixth icon down, I will get Quicken, whether or not it
was already opened. I find that a real convenience.

Why not just press <Win>+6? ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-9/30/10)
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3502.0922) in Win7 Ultimate x64
SP1 beta


"Ken Blake" wrote in message

Is there a settings option, or some downloadable utility, that will allow
me
to change the look of the Win7 taskbar? I really prefer the original
Quick
Launch look and the wider taskbar boxes to show open applications.

Not to try to talk you out of your preferences, but let me point out a
couple of things:

1. If you drag the task bar to the left or right side of the screen
instead of leaving it in its default position at the bottom, the boxes
can be as wide as you want them to be. Just drag to your preferred
size.

2. With today's wide-screen monitors, I think having the task bar on
the left or right side of the screen makes better use of screen real
estate than having it on the bottom.

3. When I first started with Windows 7, I also missed having the Quick
Launch Bar. But having used the "Pin to Taskbar" option for quite a
while now, I like it better. The reason is that each icon on the task
bar is always in the same place, whether it's an open running
application or a shortcut to an application that isn't running yet. So
if I click on the sixth icon down, I will get Quicken, whether or not
it was already opened. I find that a real convenience.

 

[Ken Blake]

?Hi, Ken.


Why not just press <Win>+6? ;<)

Because the mouse is almost always in my hand. I'm more a clicker than
a keyboard person. ;-)

But whether its my way or your way, my point is the same. Knowing its
always in position 6 makes it easier.

 

[Char Jackson]

You must like the plague, then

I admit, I don't really do anything to avoid the plague, but I've been
lucky so far.

Just kidding - I prefer the wide-screen monitors too, but I haven't yet
managed to be comfortable with the task bar along the side of the
screen.

I suspect Ken may be right that it's just a matter of getting used to
it being in another location, but my eyes fall to the bottom of the
screen when I need to see the taskbar and that's fine with me. I see
no need to move it to either side (or to the top). One of my coworkers
has had his taskbar at the top of his screen for over 10 years, which
looks odd to me, but it makes sense to him. I'm just glad we have
options.

 

[Ken Blake]

I suspect Ken may be right that it's just a matter of getting used to
it being in another location, but my eyes fall to the bottom of the
screen when I need to see the taskbar and that's fine with me. I see
no need to move it to either side (or to the top).

"Need" is too strong a word, but here are the advantages of its being
on the side (not the top), in my view.

1. It decreases the width of the screen but not its height. With
today's wide-screen monitors, decreasing the width hurts less than
decreasing the height.

2. Because each icon on the task bar is just a little over one
character high, there's room for a lot more icons.

3. Similarly, there's room for more tool bars on the task bar.

4. The icons for running programs can have text as well as the icons
themselves without decreasing the number of icons there's room for.

 

[Char Jackson]

"Need" is too strong a word, but here are the advantages of its being
on the side (not the top), in my view.

1. It decreases the width of the screen but not its height. With
today's wide-screen monitors, decreasing the width hurts less than
decreasing the height.

2. Because each icon on the task bar is just a little over one
character high, there's room for a lot more icons.

3. Similarly, there's room for more tool bars on the task bar.

4. The icons for running programs can have text as well as the icons
themselves without decreasing the number of icons there's room for.

I'm not disagreeing with you and should have simply said, "I suspect
Ken may be right that it's just a matter of getting used to it being
in another location."

 

[Ken Blake]

I'm not disagreeing with you and should have simply said, "I suspect
Ken may be right that it's just a matter of getting used to it being
in another location."

OK.

 

[Stan Brown]

Sounds like you "installed" something to create the "open command prompt
here" entry. The "Open command window here" entry is the Win7 default.
So the difference could be nothing, but could be whatever the settings
are due to the method you used to create it.

Well, I might be missing something, but the settings appear
identical, including the text in the title bar. I'm not aware of
installing anything that would have done this. I have installed
TCC/LE, but that has its own right-click item: "TCC/LE prompt here".

I tried searching the Registry for "command window here", with
Keys/Values/Data checked and "whole string" not checked, and it came
up empty. That seems weird to me, too.