With Windows 7, Microsoft completely revamped not only the look but also the functionality of the Taskbar. Text labels have been replaced with large icons, and instances of the same application now stack onto one icon on the Taskbar. The new functionality keeps things simple and minimalistic and when coupled with Aero, beautiful.
Depending on what you’re doing, sometimes it’s nice to use the old Taskbar, for example; if you’re trying to teach someone like grandma how to use a new operating system or you don’t have time to adjust or learn something new. Or perhaps you fear change and prefer the way “things have always been”… 
Seriously though, this is one of the many very great things about Windows 7; A LOT of customization options are available to choose from. With the release of Windows 7 just days away, were going to begin focusing more and more on the Windows 7, it’s new features, how to use them and how-to customize the new operating system. For now however, let’s just focus on the task at hand and review how to return the Windows 7 Taskbar to the look and feel of good ole Windows XP.
Here’s a few possible looks and this article will show you how to do them
A: The New Windows 7 Taskbar
B: The Windows 7 Classic Functionality Taskbar
C: The Windows 7 Classic “XP Style” Taskbar
Okay! Let’s learn how to do it!
How To Use The Classic Functionality And XP Style Taskbar In Windows 7
1. Right-Click any empty space on the Taskbar and Click Properties on the context menu
2. The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties windows should appear. Checkbox the Use small icon option, and then Select the Never combine in the Taskbar buttons drop-menu. Click OK to save changes and continue.
3. Right-Click each icon on your Taskbar and Select Unpin this program from taskbar.
Now your desktop will have the Windows 7 style mixed with the classic text label look. If you want to continue on and use the Classic XP style just follow the next couple of steps.
4. Right-Click any open area on the desktop. From the context menu that appears Click Personalize.
5. The Appearance and Personalization window should pop-up, Scroll down to Basic and High Contrast Themes. Click the Windows Classic theme, it might take a while to switch themes depending on your system.
Questions, Comments? Would love to hear from you!
no no no!! The new windows 7 toolbar is a thing of beuty! don’t ruin it with the lame xp look!!!!
@shockersh, Yeah I have to agree, although I do miss the quick launch bar.. maybe I’m just lazy but the pins make it harder to open up apps if they are already running
Nope, the win7 toolbar sucks for me. For one, put it on the left or right of your screen and all the horizontal space is wasted. As I tend to have a LOT of applications running and multiple instances of them, having the window title is a lot easier to find then the stupid preview windows that pop up when I don’t want them to. And I don’t put anything on my desktop. So desktop peek is useless. Instead, I put all of my commonly used applications in a toolbar on the taskbar. Which when putting the taskbar on the left side gives me room for 20 programs which can be opened very quickly. Last, since the system menu doesn’t come up when you right click on the taskbar button, there’s no way to use the old-school trick of finding a window hiding off screen. Right-click->move->arrow key = window stuck to your cursor to put wherever you want. It doesn’t happen often but sometimes with remote desktop sessions, windows get confused and show up on a screen that doesn’t exist anymore.
[...] you really want to lower the amount of memory you can try switching to the Windows Classic Theme (click here for groovy instructions for disabling themes). If you ask me though, 0.2MB of memory isn’t much to be worried [...]
I love it too. What im trying to figure out is how to switch back to defaut taskbar settings. for somereason my internet exploror icon wont display the tab pictures at the bottom any more and i dont know why.
if that makes any sense to you and you know how to fix it please contact me mtcharmed@yahoo.com
This could be an issue with a setting in Internet Explorer.
Check Tools > Internet Options
From the General Tab -> Click Settings
Make sure the “Show previews for individual tabs in the taskbar” is checked.
Screenshot of Setting