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Windows 7

Disable Taskbar Button to Preview the Desktop via Aero Peek

SUMMARY: Disable the Aero Peek feature on the end of the Windows 7 Taskbar.

On the end of the Windows 7 taskbar, on the right side (or at the bottom if you have moved the Windows 7 Taskbar to the side of the monitor) is a button you can hover your mouse over to preview the Desktop. When you do so all open windows are temporarily hidden, showing the Desktop with rectangles representing where the windows are located. By pressing this button you can hide all windows and show the Desktop.

While many appreciate this new feature of Windows 7, others would rather have the button to show the Desktop and not have the Aero Peek capability. Thus it can be disabled.

Using Aero Peek to preview the Windows 7 Desktop

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose "Properties".

2. The "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" dialog box appears. Underneath "Preview desktop with Aero Peek", uncheck "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop".

Disable Aero Peek capability on Windows 7 Taskbar

3. Click "OK" to close the dialog box.

This tip was written for Windows 7 RC. Screenshots and information are subject to change between this and the official release of Windows 7.