One nice feature with Windows 7 is the way it has unique icons for each application that is running on the taskbar that allows for a lot clearer view of what is running on your computer. Unfortunately, the only way you can get this feature is if you *combine* the icons for applications that have multiple windows. I found this annoying when switching between windows of the same application.
I did some research and found a way to have the small icon without having the applications combine.
- Right-click on the taskbar and select Properties
- Select the Taskbar tab and change the Taskbar buttons option to Never Combine or Combine when taskbar is full
- Click OK
- Now you need to edit the registry (please note, editing the registry incorrectly can severly affect your Windows functionality. Please proceed at your own risk)
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Control Panel\\Desktop\\WindowMetrics
- Either add a String value or modify the existing string value called MinWidth. The value should be 54
- Close and save the registry change
- Reboot
Alternatively you can create a registry file to do this for you.
- Using Windows Notepad, create a file called Regfile to adjust taskabar.reg
- In the file write the following:
- Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Control Panel\\Desktop\\WindowMetrics]
\MinWidth\=\54\ - Close and save the file.
- Double-click on the file and confirm the security warning and that you want to make the change
- Reboot.