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
    2016-01-27T21:12:45+00:00

    I solved the Alt Tab issue of the window with the open applications disappearing if I did not continue to press the tab button repeatedly.

    First I tried to un-check the "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop" box in the Taskbar tab under the "Taskbar and Start menu Properties" from the Personalization option in the Control panel. That did not work in my case. (Running Windows 7 Professional 64Bit)

    However, when I went to the "Performance Information and Tools" in the control panel and then selected the "Adjust visual effects" option to the left and wenty to the "Visual Effects" tab there is another "Enable Aero Peek" checkbox in the list that was checked. After un-checking this box too the problem was solved to my delight.

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