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Possible Duplicate:
Disable or delay alt-tab Aero Peek effect in Windows 7
I'm running Win7 on a laptop without aero and I much prefer the traditional Alt+Tab switcher where you just see the program icons and the Window title. The thumbnails in Vista / 7 are quite useless and look horrible - can I turn them off?
user9529
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 301
16
ALT + (tap the other ALT key) + TAB gives you the 'classic' preview, at least when using Aero.
To make it the default, check out barbudo's comment here.
Seba Illingworth
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 271
barbudo link is broken. Did not know about ALT + other-ALT-pressed-one + TAB trick. This is exactly what I want. – Axel Bregnsbo – 2016-12-03T13:19:39.870
1
The other answer https://superuser.com/a/78314/191663 contains a working method. I guess that was how the broken linked described it? Also note, that this still works as of 2018-09-13 in Windows 10.
– kdb – 2018-09-13T14:34:47.830@kdb Yes, it's the same method – golimar – 2019-12-13T10:43:31.240
1This is great. I like the old alt+tab (icons are iconic says obvious man obviously) and I love the win+tab (which has mouse support to select the right page), but the new alt+tab was less than optimal. – horatio – 2011-03-01T21:20:29.167
An excellent solution! But if you have changed your font sizes and/or icon sizes, you'll see that the selection rectangle will be a bit off. However, the functionality is perfect. – Scott Biggs – 2012-12-28T18:36:47.957
that does work! – djeidot – 2009-12-03T15:51:29.003
9
Try this:
Go to Control Panel > Performance Information and Tools;
Click on Adjust visual effects;
Uncheck Enable Desktop Composition.
It will affect other subtleties in Windows appearance, but I don't know another way to disable these thumbnails.
jpbochi
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 201
Not running Aero, might as well turn off "Enable desktop composition" – Scott McClenning – 2010-10-02T01:29:03.270
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Trick found on http://www.mattbrindley.com/developing/windows/windows-vista-win-tab-alt-tab:
Create a DWORD called "AltTabSettings" in \HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer and set it to 1. This will get you back your beloved classic (and super zippy) Windows XP AltTab.
4
VistaSwitcher is normally meant to improve the ALT-Tab hotkey, adding more features.
However, if you disable most of the "bells'n'whistles", you get a list of open windows and their icons, and nothing else!
Although it's called VistaSwitcher, it runs perfectly on Windows 7 and it's free!
Snark
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 30 147
2
Maybe you're looking for Switcher ?
Switcher puts you in control of your windows. See all your windows on one screen, quickly search through them, even decorate them with your favorite colors and fonts.
It can also do multi-monitor.
You can view your windows in 3 views:
Here is an example:
harrymc
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 306 093
Q:Alt-Tab is too much eye candy! A:use Switcher, an exposé clone! :P +1 regardless, it's good software – Phoshi – 2009-11-13T23:02:46.717
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What I know is that Ctrl+Tab is only working in several applications to switch between tabs (i.e. Firefox). If you want just see the program icons and the window titles try ALT+Tab; this is working fine for me (running Win7 without Aero here).
C.Schmalzgruber
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 292
Gosh, I wrote Ctrl when I meant Alt! I've updated the question. – user9529 – 2009-09-07T14:54:09.887
OK, in that case my answer doesn't make any sense. – C.Schmalzgruber – 2009-09-08T06:58:11.500
1
You must really hate Vista's "Flip-3D" feature when you use Win+Tab!
An alternative to Alt+Tab that you could try is Alt+Esc, this cycles between the open Windows by just bringing each one to the front of view, no icon bar, thumbnail bar or anything like that.
There's an MSDN article on how Alt+Esc has maintained such a minimal interface when all the others have been 'jazzed up': Windows Confidential: The Forgotten Hotkey
GAThrawn
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 4 176
Correction: Alt+Esc actually sends the currently active window to the background (behind all other windows) – i-g – 2011-10-06T18:25:26.347
0
There are a couple of ways to turn off the thumbnails, but, like the other posters, I don't know one that turns off just that feature.
However, if, like me, what annoys you most is the blinking in the background as W7 tries to be "smart" and let you preview the app, then that is a specific function: it's called "Aero Peek" and you can disable it by selecting "Custom" in "Visual Effects".
For me, disabling Aero Peek, and knowing the "tap right alt" feature for the occasions where the thumbnails confuse me, gives a good experience.
Peter S Magnusson
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 553
0
This preview is a function of Windows Aero, and I don't believe it can be turned off without turning off Aero itself.
As far as I know, the only way to turn of Aero is to select a theme from "Basic and High Contrast Themes"
A site that details the process is here: http://webtrickz.com/how-to-switch-to-windows-7-basic-theme-non-aero/
Christopher_G_Lewis
Posted 2009-09-07T10:35:28.147
Reputation: 321
Pete already writes he is "running Win7 on a laptop without aero" ! – Snark – 2009-11-18T21:09:04.470
Ah - thought it said Vista. But he is running Aero. If you change the Windows 7 theme to Windows Basic, the XP-style Alt-Tab switcher comes back. – Christopher_G_Lewis – 2009-11-19T04:50:18.927
1It surprises me that no one was able to answer such a simple question – jpbochi – 2009-11-18T19:59:56.293
Are you sure you're not running Aero? I don't see any thumbnails when I switch Aero off... – djeidot – 2009-12-03T15:56:00.227