Aero Peek - Turn On or Off

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    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off

    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off

    How to Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Windows 7



       Information
    This will show you how to turn Windows 7 Aero Peek, also known as Desktop Preview, On or Off to temporarily make all open windows on the desktop transparent when you place the mouse pointer on the button at the far right end of the taskbar.
       Warning

    • When turned on, Desktop Preview will only work if you have more than one window opened.
    • You will need to have a Aero Theme selected and not one of the Basic and High Contrast Themes for Desktop Preview to work.

    Aero Requirements to be Enabled in Windows 7

    NOTE: If Aero is not enabled, then Aero Peek will not work even when turned on.
    • Aero is not included in Windows 7 Home Basic or Windows 7 Starter editions.
    • 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
    • 1 GB of system memory
    • Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (in order to enable Aero theme)
    • You must be have True Color (32 bit) set instead of High Color (16 bit).
    • The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services need to be set as Started and Automatic.
    • Refresh or update your WEI score. You will need an WEI score minimum of 2.0 in both Graphics & Gaming graphics in order for Aero to be activated.
    • The desktop composition and Animate controls and elements inside windows options need to be enabled in Visual Effects.


    EXAMPLE: Aero Peek
    NOTE: This is before (left screenshot) and after (right screenshot) hovering the mouse pointer over the Show Desktop button on the taskbar, or pressing the Windows Key + Spacebar.
    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off-before.jpg

    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off-preview.jpg



    OPTION ONE

    Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

    1. Right click on the Start button and click on Properties.
    A) Go to step 3.
    OR

    2. Right click on a empty area on the taskbar and click on Properties.

    3. Click on the Taskbar tab. (See screenshot below)
    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off-properties.jpg
    4. To Turn Off Aero Peek
    A) Uncheck the Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop box. (See screenshot above)

    B) Go to step 6.
    5. To Turn On Aero Peek
    NOTE: By default, Desktop is turned on in Windows 7.
    A) Check the Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop box. (See screenshot below step 3)
    6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3)



    OPTION TWO

    Turn Aero Peek On or Off with Show Desktop Button on Taskbar

    1. Right click on the button at the far right of the taskbar. (See screenshot below)
    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off-taskbar-2.jpg
    2. To Turn Off Aero Peek
    A) Right click on the far right taskbar button and select Peek at desktop to uncheck it. (See screenshot above)
    3. To Turn On Aero Peek
    NOTE: By default, Preview desktop is checked in Windows 7.
    A) Right click on the far right taskbar button and select Peek at desktop to check it. (See screenshot below step 1)



    OPTION THREE

    Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Visual Effects



    NOTE: This option will also enable or disable taskbar thumbnail live previews.
    1. Open the Visual Effects settings.

    2. To Enable Areo Peek
    A) Check the Enable Aero Peek box. (See screenshot below step 4)

    B) Go to step 4.
    3. To Disable Areo Peek
    NOTE: This will gray out the settings in OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO above.
    A) Uncheck the Enable Aero Peek box. (See screenshot below step 4)
    4. Click on OK.
    Aero Peek - Turn On or Off-visual_effects.jpg



    OPTION FOUR

    Turn Aero Peek On or Off Using a REG File Download


    NOTE: This option will not work if Aero Peek was disabled using OPTION THREE above.
    1. To Enable Aero Peek
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Enabled_Aero_Peek.reg
    B) Go to step 3.
    2. To Disable Aero Peek
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Disabled_Aero_Peek.reg


    Download

    3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

    4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

    5. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

    6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer.

    7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
    That's it,
    Shawn





    Related Tutorials





  2. Kryptonit3
    Posts : 95
    Windows 7 Ultimate Build 6956 x32
       New #1

    when i rightclick mine is greyed out:



    and when i hover my mouse, my windows dont go translucent, is it because i have dual screens?
    Last edited by Brink; 08 Sep 2011 at 15:05. Reason: embedded image
      My Computer
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  4. Brink
    Posts : 72,512
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #2

    Hello Kryptonit3,

    Does the WARNING box at the top of the tutorial apply to you?

    Shawn
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  5. Kryptonit3
    Posts : 95
    Windows 7 Ultimate Build 6956 x32
       New #3

    No, cuz im running 6956

    but i disabled UAC if that makes any difference
      My Computer
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,512
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    I do not believe it would, but you might turn it on to just to test.

    Do you have a Windows (Aero) theme running and not one of the Ease of Access themes?
      My Computer
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  7. Kryptonit3
    Posts : 95
    Windows 7 Ultimate Build 6956 x32
       New #5

    Brink said:
    I do not believe it would, but you might turn it on to just to test.

    Do you have a Windows (Aero) theme running and not one of the Ease of Access themes?
    Sure didnt, LoL, Thank you, it works now :-P
      My Computer
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  8. Brink
    Posts : 72,512
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    You're welcome Kryptonit3,

    LOL, that's good to hear. I'll add a note about the theme to help others with the same problem.
      My Computer
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  10. Airbot
    Posts : 18,404
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       New #7

    Hey Shawn, when you hover over the icon to activate it, is the desktop supposed to have barely noticeable diagonal lines going across the desktop. Almost like rays of sunshine. It looks like your picture above has them too. Is this normal?
      My Computer
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  11. Mark
    Posts : 4,282
    Windows 7 Ultimate Vista Ultimate x64
       New #8

    I beleive that is meant to resemble a pane of glass.
      My Computer
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  12. Brink
    Posts : 72,512
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Hi Aaron,

    Mr GRiM is correct. It is suppose to look like a pane of glass with a bit of light reflection. :)
      My Computer
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