Change Alt+Tab appearance in Windows 8

0

I have the exact same issue discussed at this Superuser thread, but the solution is not satisfactory to me.

To recap the problem, I hate the new fancy Alt+Tab interface introduced in Windows 7, and prefer the Windows XP/2000 style. There is a registry hack to get the old Alt+Tab menu to appear in Windows 7, but the menu includes some "phantom" applications (e.g., Search Pane, see pic in thread linked above). I found a way to revert the Alt+Tab behavior on a Windows 7 laptop, AND get those phantom apps to not appear, but that laptop died and I don't remember what I did now. I have a new laptop, but it is Windows 8, and I can make the registry setting to make the old Alt+Tab menu appear, but it includes those "phantom" application windows and I can't get rid of them, like I did before.

Any clues?

atreyu

Posted 2014-11-19T02:23:34.543

Reputation: 302

1

possible duplicate of Windows 8.1 Alt-Tab bug in specific programs

– Jon – 2014-11-19T02:35:56.697

@chipperyman, it is not a duplicate. i even linked to it myself, as a reference. the solution for it does not apply to me, b/c I want a different Alt+Tab behavior than the poster of that question does. – atreyu – 2014-11-19T04:25:30.567

Answers

1

In windows 8, go to "performance options" and uncheck "Enable Peek" (That's what I see it called in Windows 8.1) I did this, now when I alt-tab through my apps, the alt tab box stays up as do all the windows as I alt-tab (and shift-alt-tab) my way around.

Hope this solves it for you.

subs

Posted 2014-11-19T02:23:34.543

Reputation: 191

@ subs, that sounded promising...but to no avail. i still get the "Search Pane" ghost, plus 3 other un-named ghost apps in the Alt+Tab menu. I have not logged out and logged back in though. will try that when I can. – atreyu – 2015-05-14T18:39:25.373

Any success after the reboot/log-out? I hate that people always say, "reboot".... What worked for me was to kill explorer in task manager and then start it up again. Safer to log out and in, but I was lazy. :) Pls. upvote me if you found the post useful. – subs – 2015-05-15T20:24:23.633

@ subs, sry so slow, got busy then forgot to get back to you. i rebooted (well, Windows Update rebooted me, or i would have logged out/in) and I still see the Search Pane app...but I don't see the other 3-4 ghost apps yet. That was just on a quick look this a.m. though - not even sure if it was done "booting". will be back to confirm my status. – atreyu – 2015-05-18T12:29:39.520

@ subs, okay, i double-checked, and unfortunately, there is no change. I unchecked Aero Peek, rebooted, and the search pane is still there, along with 3 un-named ghost apps. Arggg! – atreyu – 2015-05-18T23:05:23.863

Sorry that didn't work for you. :| Remember- If you can't change it in Windows, Microsoft calls it a feature! :) – subs – 2015-05-19T13:21:05.130

Asked: 2014-11-19T02:23:34.543

Viewed: 2 804 times

Active: 2015-05-13T17:05:36.957