Alt-tab window won't stay on top of other windows in Windows 7

Anonymous
2009-11-19T20:44:44+00:00

WHen I do an alt-tab in Windows 7, if I don't constantly switch window (holding down alt and quickly clicking tab) it will go into Peek mode.  Normally, I would expect the alt-tab window to stay on top when the Peek happens, but, instead my little alt-tab window disappears behind the windows being brought forward by the Peek.  I can still cycle through the windows by pushing alt-tab, but my window has disappeared.  When I tried this on someone else's Windows 7 box, it didn't do this.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2010-02-28T22:23:49+00:00

Go to Control Panel -> Advanced (or Advanced System Settings) -> in the section Performance click on "Settings..." button -> in the custom list of Visual Effects uncheck "Enable Aero Peek" -> click "Apply" button

Now the alt-tab window will stay afloat as long as you want.

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Anonymous
2011-02-13T05:18:48+00:00

I recently starting having this problem.

In my case, I've narrowed it down to the Windows Gadgets (i.e. sidebar.exe). Once I closed all my gadgets, the problem went away; alternatively, when I killed sidebar.exe, the problem went away.

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Anonymous
2009-11-20T17:44:29+00:00

Hi,

Welcome to Microsoft answers.

Which version of Windows7 are you running ?

I suggest you to update your display drivers, goto manufacturers website and download the latest drivers and install.

Also check use aeropeak to preview desktop, follow these steps:

  1. Right click on your desktop.
  2. Goto personalize.
  3. On the left bottom corner click on Taskbar and Start Menu.
  4. Check use aeropeak to preview desktop.

Let us know if you have any issues.

Thanks and Regards,

Azam - Microsoft Support.

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Anonymous
2010-01-05T19:32:31+00:00

OK.  I think I have the answer...I logged on to my computer with a different account and did not see the same Alt-tab problems I had before.  Assuming this was a profile issue, I logged in as an admin and deleted my profile (My Computer|Properties|Advanced System Settings|User Profiles|Settings).  I logged back in and don't have the alt-tab problem anymore.  You will end up losing a lot of your settings and don't forget to back up your desktop and Favorites, but, it works.

I would like to hear if this fixes the problem for anyone else.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-01-16T23:38:24+00:00

    Home machine has had this problem almost since I installed 7, although I think upon fresh install it wasn't present.

     

    This has to be reproduceable by Microsoft by now.

    In every case that I have investigated this problem has been caused not by drivers or a lack of CPU or graphics horsepower, but by a particular program running. For example, ipoint.exe or sidebar.exe are both known to trigger the problem.

    Here's what you should do: Close most of the programs (e-mail, web browser, etc.). Verify that the problem reproes. Now bring up task manager (right click on the task bar at the bottom and select Start Task Manager).

    Look at the Processes tab. See if sidebar.exe or ipoint.exe are running. Use End Process to kill them if they are, and then see if alt+tab works correctly.

    Now go through the list of programs, especially anything that looks unusual, and End Process them. After each one try Alt+Tab to see if it has been fixed. If you kill a program and that causes Alt+Tab to start working then please share that information.

    And yes, Microsoft should absolutely fix this. Complain to them in any way that you can, on forums and support groups. But first check to see if your machine has a new cause, or one of the existing known causes (ipoint.exe and sidebar.exe).

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