Windows 7 Taskbar Preview Thumbnails

[smith2828]

After my screensaver goes on, Windows 7 clears all of my taskbar preview thumbnails and replaces them with just icons of the applications. then, once i click on teh applications and restore them the taskbar preview comes back.

The way this is designed seems stupid. Isn't there a way I can keep the thumbnail preview (even if its old and outdated) instead of windows replacing it with an icon?

here's a picture of what I mean Imageshack - taskbar2

the "save taskbar thumbnail previews" option is checked but doesn't seem to work.

thanks

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're experiencing an issue with Windows 7 where the taskbar preview thumbnails are being replaced with icons after the screensaver activates. The behavior you're describing is part of the normal functioning of Windows, but there might be a workaround that could help retain the taskbar preview thumbnails even after the screensaver is activated. Here are a few steps you can try to address this issue:

Check Settings​

1. Taskbar Settings:
   • Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select "Properties."
   • In the "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" window, go to the "Taskbar" tab.
   • Ensure that the "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop" and "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop (full-size)" options are checked.

Registry Modification​

1. Registry Editor:
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
   • Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Taskband.
   • Right-click on the right-pane and create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named ThumbnailsOverride.
   • Set the value to 1 and then close the Registry Editor.

     Third-Party Tools​

   []Third-Party Tools:
   • Consider using third-party customization tools like 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, which offers more advanced taskbar customization options.

     Monitor Application Compatibility​

   []Compatibility:
   • Ensure that the applications running in the taskbar are compatible with Windows 7 and aren't causing conflicts. After trying these steps, monitor the behavior to see if it resolves the issue of taskbar preview thumbnails being replaced by icons after the screensaver is activated. If the issue persists, you might want to consider further troubleshooting or seeking additional assistance. Let me know if you need further assistance or if you have any other questions!