Taskbar thumbnails ... how do I get them?

[beau159]

I just installed the Windows 7 full version Home Premium on my Dell XPS M1530 32bit, which previously had Vista.

I noticed in the little booklet that came with software that when you hold your mouse over an icon in the taskbar (internet explorer, for example), it should bring up little thumbnail pictures of what you have open. However, when I do that, I just get a list. I would much rather have the pictures, because I think that would be quicker for me to remember which page was which. I've putzed around trying to figure out how to change that, but can't find it.

Any suggestions?

 

[lorddenis]

i think you shuld check this out:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52265-taskbar-thumbnail-previews-enable-disable.html

 

[mitchell65]

I just installed the Windows 7 full version Home Premium on my Dell XPS M1530 32bit, which previously had Vista.

I noticed in the little booklet that came with software that when you hold your mouse over an icon in the taskbar (internet explorer, for example), it should bring up little thumbnail pictures of what you have open. However, when I do that, I just get a list. I would much rather have the pictures, because I think that would be quicker for me to remember which page was which. I've putzed around trying to figure out how to change that, but can't find it.

Any suggestions?

Have you got Aero turned on? The thumbnails only show with an Aero theme!

 

[beau159]

I just installed the Windows 7 full version Home Premium on my Dell XPS M1530 32bit, which previously had Vista.

I noticed in the little booklet that came with software that when you hold your mouse over an icon in the taskbar (internet explorer, for example), it should bring up little thumbnail pictures of what you have open. However, when I do that, I just get a list. I would much rather have the pictures, because I think that would be quicker for me to remember which page was which. I've putzed around trying to figure out how to change that, but can't find it.

Any suggestions?

Have you got Aero turned on? The thumbnails only show with an Aero theme!

I did initially try an Aero theme. It still doesn't work.

At this point, I selected the Windows 7 Aero theme, but I selected my own photos to be used as a slideshow on the desktop.

There was a little sentence I could click on to troubleshoot. I ran it and it told me that:
The current video card may support Aero with a driver that is compliant with the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM). Contact the manufacturer of your computer or video card for a WDDM-compatible driver.



So basically, I don't have the right driver on my video card.

Any ideas what this means and/or what I need to download from Dell?

Edited to ADD: I also cannot do the glass colors like the little booklet describes. All I get is the old-looking color changes like back from Windows 97!! Would that also be associated with my video card?

 

[mitchell65]

To me it all looks like a video card driver problem. Go the Dell site and see if there is an up to date driver for your card available. If not email Dell with your tag number and ask them!

 

[alphanumeric]

If you know what the make and model of the video card is you can go to Nvidia or ATI and get the latest driver package.

 

[beau159]

If you know what the make and model of the video card is you can go to Nvidia or ATI and get the latest driver package.

Where can I look up what video card/make/model I currently have?

 

[mitchell65]

Try downloading Belarc Advisor an running that. It should show you details of your Video Card
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

 

[DeaconFrost]

If you know what the make and model of the video card is you can go to Nvidia or ATI and get the latest driver package.

Not for a laptop. You want to stick to the OEM drivers for those

Where can I look up what video card/make/model I currently have?

If it is your computer, this is something you should know off the top of your head, considering it factored into the purchase of the computer. However, Dell makes it very easy. Go to Welcome to Dell Support and put in your service tage number. It will bring you to the latest drivers for your laptop.

 

[beau159]

If you know what the make and model of the video card is you can go to Nvidia or ATI and get the latest driver package.

Not for a laptop. You want to stick to the OEM drivers for those

Where can I look up what video card/make/model I currently have?

If it is your computer, this is something you should know off the top of your head, considering it factored into the purchase of the computer. However, Dell makes it very easy. Go to Welcome to Dell Support and put in your service tage number. It will bring you to the latest drivers for your laptop.

Well I purchased it over 3 years ago, so I can't say it was something I committed to memory. The currrent computer I am talking about though, is the replacement Dell sent for my original "lemon" I ordered (that's an entirely different issue).

I have already gone to the Dell page with my service tag number and I did look at the video drivers. However, I always feel hesitant to download things I may not need or things that might not be correct.

It lists this under the Video tab:

dia GeForce 8400M
Release Date:10/23/2008Version:7.15.11.7644, A03Download Type:DriverFile Format:Hard DriveFile Size:52 MB

Does that sound about right?

I tried looking up what video card I had like in Computer or Control Panal, but I couldn't find it.

 

[pebbly]

If you know what the make and model of the video card is you can go to Nvidia or ATI and get the latest driver package.

Not for a laptop. You want to stick to the OEM drivers for those

Where can I look up what video card/make/model I currently have?

If it is your computer, this is something you should know off the top of your head, considering it factored into the purchase of the computer. However, Dell makes it very easy. Go to Welcome to Dell Support and put in your service tage number. It will bring you to the latest drivers for your laptop.

Well I purchased it over 3 years ago, so I can't say it was something I committed to memory. The currrent computer I am talking about though, is the replacement Dell sent for my original "lemon" I ordered (that's an entirely different issue).

I have already gone to the Dell page with my service tag number and I did look at the video drivers. However, I always feel hesitant to download things I may not need or things that might not be correct.

It lists this under the Video tab:

dia GeForce 8400M
Release Date:10/23/2008Version:7.15.11.7644, A03Download Type:DriverFile Format:Hard DriveFile Size:52 MB

Does that sound about right?

I tried looking up what video card I had like in Computer or Control Panal, but I couldn't find it.

Again yes and again install in compat mode

 

[DeaconFrost]

I tried looking up what video card I had like in Computer or Control Panal, but I couldn't find it.

There are several areas that will give you this info, but Device Manager is probably your best bet.

As for the drivers, yes, that's the right file, assuming you have the 8400. My brother in law has that same model laptop, and that's the video chip he has installed. You don't need to bother with compatibility mode, either. They should just install normally.

Another option you have to is to remove the current drivers, and then run Windows Update to see if there's anything newer than what you posted. This way, you'll also be assured of getting the compatible version.

 

[pebbly]

beau159, It may also be worthwhile to update the chipset Drivers & Downloads Have a look in device manager and if there are any devices with a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark against them, right click on the device and select "update driver"

 

[beau159]

beau159, It may also be worthwhile to update the chipset Drivers & Downloads Have a look in device manager and if there are any devices with a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark against them, right click on the device and select "update driver"

Thanks again. The video card driver did the trick. I can get the glass colors now and the thumbnails work too.

I have been in the device manager before (when I was looking for the touchpad issue) but I guess I didn't pay attention to the yellow triangles, or rather, didn't really know what they meant.

I looked again and the only things with yellow flags (and I am pretty sure that is how it was before when I was looking, before I even downloaded these two drivers) are under the heading "Other Devices" and there are two of them both labeled "base system device". I clicked on them to update them automatically but neither of them worked.

I am not sure what those are for??? Or what driver to install?

 

[DeaconFrost]

If you follow the simple steps at www.pcidatabase.com, you can find out what those devices really are. I believe one would be part of the chipset drivers or the SMBus drivers for your laptop's motherboard.

You'll find out what they are exactly on the website, and then you'll be able to scroll through Dell's drivers to find them. You can also try running Windows Update as well.