Get Windows 7 Like Large Taskbar Buttons in Windows Vista

As you all know, Windows 7 taskbar doesn't show the program name in their buttons instead it only shows their icons. Also the taskbar buttons are a bit large in height compared to previous Windows versions.

If you want to have the same thing in Windows Vista, then there is a good news for you. Our friend "flarejune" has created a very small standalone utility for Vista users which he wants to share with AskVG readers. It allows you to increase the taskbar buttons size. So you can make them look-a-like Windows 7 taskbar buttons. Thanks to "flarejune" for creating this utility and sharing with AskVG readers.

Before:

After:

First download and install "Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package" from here. Its required to run Taskbar Resize tool.

Now download the tool from following link:

Download Taskbar Resize Tool

Alternative Link

Extract the RAR file and you'll get 2 folders:

en-us
zh-cn

If you are using English version of Windows, then open the "en-us" folder and run the EXE file. If you are using a Chinese version, then use the second folder "zh-cn".

When you'll run the EXE file, it'll show following window:

Simply drag the slider according to your requirements and click on "Apply" button. That's it. You can see the instant affect. You can play with the slider settings until it satisfies your needs.

You can add it to startup using "auto startup" checkbox.

If you want to iconize taskbar buttons so that it doesn't show program text, then you can follow the simple steps given in following tutorial:

Get Windows 7 Iconized (Icon Only) Taskbar Feature in Windows XP and Vista

Or you can use our small utility which can do the task automatically:

Taskbar Iconizer: Utility to Iconize Taskbar in Windows XP and Vista

This article was posted in Software Zone, Windows Vista.

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29 Comments

Karrypto

Vishal,
I have a little bug using this tool.I don't know why,but sometimes the taskbar buttons get small again.I'm using a german version of windows vista.Can this cause the bug?
VG

^^ You can use following Windows 7 theme for Vista which contains big taskbar buttons:

http://www.askvg.com/update-download-windows-7-pdc-theme-for-windows-vista/
scipio194

VG, after you install these awesome packs...
is there any way to uninstall them without doing a system restore?
VG

^^ Almost all transformation packs come with uninstallation option, so you should not worry about that. And creating System Restore point is always recommended, so that you can restore your system if something goes wrong or the pack doesnt provide uninstallation option.
scipio194

Nice, now there's nothing holding me back with installing this
thanks!
Fausto

I just want to know if there is a way to make the image icon bigger. I think it is too small, and a bigger image will look better. Hope there is a way to do it.
seryogin93

If someone can, please make Russian version of this program.
Brian

hi Vishal, i haved a question and 'm Sure you can answer it... i need help to resize the taskbar buttons' height... But i don't want to do it with a tool, i want to do it with a registry entry just the one that you used for the MinWidth entry.. When i use this tool it slows down my startup (not by much ) butit still does...
also, the tool periodically stops working in the middle of a session and i have to re-apply it. it's not terribly annoying, but i would like to have an OS that is running stable and looks the way i want it to.

i don't know if you have the knowledge of how to do this but it would be greatly appreciated!!

P.s. i've already looked at the whole Advanced Appearance thing, but it changes the entire size, like even in the window borders and close buttons... all i want to resize is the taskbar buttons, (not the quicklaunch ones either. i've already done that.). Thank You
VG

^^ It can be done using 3rd party themes like SevenVG theme for XP.