Full Screen Magnifier Question

dwilli0289 · 25 Aug 2010

I'm smoke testing W7 for my company and we've had user request to use the magnifier functionality. He is using an HP Elitebook 4880 laptop and leveraging the Architecture Aero theme, however I cannot get the magnifier to allow me use any view option other than "Docked". This system is completely compatible with W7, but nothing I've done to date will allow me to select Full Screen (appears grayed out).

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Dallas

periboob · 25 Aug 2010

Have not much used the magnifier myself, but since the modes seem to have strong attachment to the Aero themes, have you tried changing to another, perhaps a more basic, Aero theme? (Save your current one first if you are attached to it)

A Guy · 26 Aug 2010

Welcome to Seven Forums dwilli0289. You can left click the Magnifier Taskbar icon to display the magnifier Toolbar. Click the Views drop down menu for the options. However
the PC must be using a Windows Aero theme in order for the full screen to work. When the laptop is not plugged in, the theme is automatically changed to Windows 7 Basic. That's will cause the full screen choice to be grayed out. Also, when using memory intensive apps, the theme will automatically switch to basic. See if the full screen option is available with the laptop plugged in, and no apps running. A Guy

debugged · 27 Aug 2010

I've been using magnifier in non-aero mode, desktop is Windows classic scheme. From its default position docked on top, left-click on it anywhere and drag down undocks it. (You can tell it's undocked, because you can see the "Magnifier" title bar.) You can then adjust its undocked size by carefully left-clicking and dragging on the window borders (I prefer to make this fairly small). Then dragging it to the top docks it at full width again, same to bottom, and dragging to either side makes it full-screen. From its docked, top or bottom, or full-screen view, left-click and drag pops it back to its previously set undocked dimensions. To change it's docked height, you have to adjust it up or down while in docked position, then it goes back to that every time you re-dock.

I have no idea if Magnifier will work like this with other Windows 7 setups - best to play around with it a lot to find out what it can do for you.