How to make taskbar on left side smaller

[bhs67]

How does one make the task bar on the left side of the screen smaller? Selecting the edge and dragging works fine. However, it does not allow reducing it to the typical 1/4 inch size that WinXP allows. Yes, the icons are a small size.

Note that along the bottom, it can be reduced to the 1/4 inch size.

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums

The taskbar on the left or right sides will not get as small as the top and bottom.

Sorry
Jerry

 

[nommy the first]

Hello bhs67 and welcome to the Forums,

Actually, there is a way, although you have to do it again for every session, as it resets upon start up. Here's how;

1. First, click on the rb: and in the Search programs and files box, type "Services" without the quotes. Open the entry with the cog next to it.
2. Now search for an entry called "Desktop Window Manager Session Manager".
3. Now right click on your taskbar, click on "Properties" and put a check on all three the options in the Taskbar Appearance menu, as shown in the screenshot;
   
4. After clicking on OK there, right click on the entry in the Services tab you first opened, and click on "restart".
   
5. And tadaa, your taskbar is now the same, small, size as the one on the top and bottom.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[bhs67]

No difference. Task bar is still large ... see attachment.

 

[nommy the first]

Hello bhs67,

Hmm, weird.. It's working perfectly fine for me, and has done so for the past 6 months.
Do you have any custom themes installed, and if so, is your machine patched so that it can handle custom themes?
Also, which version of Windows 7 are you using?


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[bhs67]

I am using Windows 7 Professional, Service Pack 1 ... Windows Classic / Solid Color background. I recently installed Classic Shell (Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements) which gets me closer to the look of Win XP / Win 2000.

 

[nommy the first]

Hello bhs67,

I fear that this only works with the standard Aero theme or patched custom themes that use Aero.
Have you patched your system to be able to properly apply custom themes? If not, please do so by following steps one to six of this tutorial (this trick might work afterwards).


Good luck and keep us posted,
Nommy

 

[bhs67]

I make it through step 6. How do I get to step 7? These are not listed ... right click screen -> Propersonalize.

 

[Bongo]

Step 7 is looking for a custom theme to install.

If you are using the Classic theme doing the patching will not help you get a smaller taskbar on the right or left.

I was looking to do something like this a couple of years ago and gave up because there was nothing that will do it permanently.

Jerry

 

[bhs67]

Ok, thanks.

 

[nommy the first]

I was looking to do something like this a couple of years ago and gave up because there was nothing that will do it permanently.

Ah, I didn't know this.

If this doesn't work than I think that there really isn't any way to achieve this.


Nommy