Thanks. What I did do was locate and edit the registry--after backing it up first.
The registry location is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
I had something similar happen recently involving the early development version of Firefox aka Trunk/Minefield. My assumption is that either during an install or as a result of a crash, Minefield had a compatibility fix applied to it.
My first indication was despite having the pref in Minefield properly set my one Windows 7 system refused to show each tab as previews when hovering over the Minefield icon in the Task Bar. (My Firefox 4 showed the previews without issue.) After an exhaustive search of the registry, I located the above location. Having a second Windows 7 system, I was able to compare the two system and the keys in the Layers location. After removing the Minefield entry from the affected system, the Task Bar preview functionality for Minefield was restored.
Of course, all the precautions apply when in the registry such as always backup before making any changes to the registry.
What I wish for is Micro$oft to have provided a way for we users to see what compatibility fixes have been made and allow us to "undo" those fixes in such situations as I have recently encountered without having to disable PCA because it IS of value for programs that DO need compatibility fixes applied to them. I also wish PCA would not just apply the fix, but offer us the option like Windows does on BSOD's to try, again, without making any compatibility changes. (Or, as I have so frustratedly found out restrict such access to higher versions of the OS, likely just another way to pry more $$$ out of our hands.)