Bigger buttons, smaller notifications?

[DDjusD]

Okay to get it clear I want the Taskbar buttons to be a little bigger as I use the Quick Launch bar and the SMALL little gap beneath the buttons is just not appealing to the eye and I want the buttons to be just a little taller to fill the gap. As for the Notifications Area I was wanting to know if there is a way to make them be in two rows instead of one without increasing the size of the Taskbar? Thanks in advance to anyone who helps!

EDIT: I can work with reducing the size of the Quick Launch buttons instead of increasing the size of the Taskbar buttons, I would actually prefer this way more. As for double rows on the System Tray/Notifications Area I would really love this feature but if it can't be done without increasing the size of the Taskbar then I would rather not do anything about it at all as I kinda want my Taskbar to be small with large icons, the Notifications area is rarely touched so I want it to be small as it is only used for Volume, Internet Connection, Anti-Virus, Update. Again thanks in advance!

EDIT: Okay I was asking two different questions, how could I increase the height of the main Taskbar buttons, the ones for running programs, or reduce the size of the Quick Launch bar buttons to get rid of the space beneath the main Taskbar buttons, image below. Also I was asking was there anyway to get rid of the fancy border around the buttons in the System Tray and make the icons in the System Tray be in two rows instead of one without increasing the size of my Taskbar, image of what it would look like below.

Space beneath the Taskbar buttons that is unwanted:

(Notice the thin line under the buttons)
What I want the System Tray/Notifications Area to look like:

(Notice it is about the average "Large Icon" height but the icons are closer together)

I did these images on my laptop as I am at home and haven't hooked my desktop computer back up.

 

[dunfiddlin]

Wow ... I'm thinking I need some screen shots here cos I'm having a really hard time trying to visualise what you want.

 

[DDjusD]

Okay I will take some pictures and upload in a few minutes.

EDIT: Okay I was asking two different questions, how could I increase the height of the main Taskbar buttons, the ones for running programs, or reduce the size of the Quick Launch bar buttons to get rid of the space beneath the main Taskbar buttons, image below. Also I was asking was there anyway to get rid of the fancy border around the buttons in the System Tray and make the icons in the System Tray be in two rows instead of one without increasing the size of my Taskbar, image of what it would look like below.

Space beneath the Taskbar buttons that is unwanted:

(Notice the thin line under the buttons)
What I want the System Tray/Notifications Area to look like:

(Notice it is about the average "Large Icon" height but the icons are closer together)

I did these images on my laptop as I am at home and haven't hooked my desktop computer back up.

 

[Ageeb]

how could I increase the height of the main Taskbar buttons

I think Control Panel > Appearance and Personalization > Display will allow you to adjust the size of the icons but I have a feeling that space is going to scale with the growth.

is there the same space under the 'show desktop' section of the task bar? (far right, after clock)....
-Ageeb

 

[DDjusD]

No the "Show Desktop" button goes from top to bottom of the Taskbar, I think making the other buttons slightly taller without making them wider is possible for that one reason. If only Microsoft made this easy and as for what you suggested it didn't work, it scaled everything to be big and kept the bar underneath the buttons, the only thing is that I have the Quick Launch bar, it increases the height of the Taskbar just a little. The only way this is going to be possible would be through regedit if it is ever able to be done. Also I think it can be done through a similar way as the minwidth but I have tried minheight and that didn't do anything. Please let me know on any ideas you have.

 

[Ageeb]

found this thread here... maybe something in there will help ya?

edit:
if you disable the quick launch toolbar, and pin programs to superbar do those look normal?

 

[DDjusD]

Sadly no, that is for width, not height. Thanks for trying though. Still if you find something let me know .

 

[Ageeb]

Ok... let's backup a few steps here. I'm not sure what the solution is but I'd be willing to help you figure one out, or at least narrow down where your problem starts to occur.

Here's what i'm thinking (If you'd like): Let's get your GUI to a base install type with just aero on which means:
disable your quick launch workaround
display > 100% icon size
taskbar and start menu properties > Use small icons unchecked
and see if your problem still exists..

If so, we can compare some registry values to see if there are some rogue values on your end. If not, we can start pointing fingers at the quick launch workaround, of which, you'd have to wait for some of the big dogs to come to help with that.

If you can think of another take, I'm willing to help you however I can, or if you want to venture this path just let me know and we'll get started...

 

[DDjusD]

I already know that it's the Quick Launch bar that is causing the extra space under the Taskbar buttons, what I would like to do is increase the height of the Taskbar buttons or decrease the height of the Quick Launch bar buttons so the space wouldn't be there. I am sure there is a Registry edit that would increase the height of the Taskbar buttons as there is for the width of the Taskbar buttons. If I turn off the Quick Launch bar the space beneath the Taskbar buttons goes away.

 

[Ageeb]

Ok, I'm out of ideas then... Hopefully someone can chime in on this for you. If I run across something, I'll post back. Good luck.

-Ageeb

 

[DDjusD]

Alright, well I will try and toy around with it as much as I can without screwing up one of my computers.

 

[dunfiddlin]

I already know that it's the Quick Launch bar that is causing the extra space under the Taskbar buttons, what I would like to do is increase the height of the Taskbar buttons or decrease the height of the Quick Launch bar buttons so the space wouldn't be there. I am sure there is a Registry edit that would increase the height of the Taskbar buttons as there is for the width of the Taskbar buttons. If I turn off the Quick Launch bar the space beneath the Taskbar buttons goes away.

Taskbar buttons are created within the system using a whole bunch of xml and stylesheets. It probably is just about possible to work your way through the labyrinth but that way madness lies! But you can be sure that no registry edit is going to give you what you want here. The problem with employing Quick Launch is that it's a toolbar which means it carries the baggage of borders and the like so it will always need a bit of extra space. Unless you're prepared to go vertical (and why anybody with a wide screen doesn't is slightly beyond me, I have to confess!) or scrap Quick Launch this is an inconsistency that you're kinda forced to live with.

 

[DDjusD]

Alright well thanks anyways.