Windows 7 taskbar doesn't show text in application buttons, it only show their icons. On the other hand previous Windows versions used to show icon as well as text in all application's taskbar buttons.
Actually Windows 7 new iconized taskbar feature looks good and it also saves space in taskbar area. If you want to have the same feature in Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003, 2008, etc, then you can get it after following a few simple and easy steps.
Before applying this tutorial:
After applying this tutorial:
So here are the steps to follow:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor. Now go to following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics
2. In right-side pane, create a new String value MinWidth and set its value to -255
3. That's it. Log off or restart your system and get ready to have iconized taskbar in your system.
4. To restore default taskbar behavior, delete the MinWidth String value and log off or restart your system.
PS: If you want a ready-made registry script which can do the task automatically, then download following ZIP file, extract it and then run the Install.reg file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it:
This article was posted in Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Dnyanesh
Vishal,
I think you should also provide a counter registry script for this hack so that users can switch back to their original settings.
Regards.
pogo
I'm having the same issue as Larry with the XP Ultimate Theme - I actually get a full capital letter and a .
Have tried raising and lowering the value with no success. Love the improvement and will stay with it but would love a solution too.
Cheers,
Pogo
Overstressed Admin
Nice trick. I am using the original Vista theme and I notice that I still have boxes around the icons on the bar. I looked at you screencap and saw that your padded border width was 60 while mine was 30. I adjusted this, but no luck. Any ideas? My borderwidth is -15, but that is higher up than the screencap you posted.
VG
^^ Its because of theme. You'll need to use "AeroVG" theme which you can find in "Vista Themes" section.
Sandeep
Hi Vishal, great work, just what I wanted
One problem though - you know when you make the quick launch icons large size instead of small size, well is there any way you can make the application icons that size as well?
I mean now that you've removed the text from the application buttons, can you make the icons large?
Thanks
Sandeep
Hi Vishal, great work, just what I wanted
One problem though - you know when you make the quick launch icons large size instead of small size, well is there any way you can make the application icons that size as well?
I mean now that you've removed the text from the application buttons, can you make the icons large?
Thanks
Sandeep
Hi Vishal, great work, just what I wanted
One problem though - you know when you make the quick launch icons large size instead of small size, well is there any way you can make the application icons that size as well?
I mean now that you've removed the text from the application buttons, can you make the icons large?
Thanks
VG
^^ Thats a limitation in XP and Vistal. Not possible.
05Edge
Thanks so much! This is awesome!
besnath
can we do the same in height ?
i put quick launch icons in large size and now the "MinWidth" reduce in Width but can you enlarge the height ??