"Show desktop button" doesn't preview desktop

Question

Recently I've found a small problem with the appearance of my Window7/x64 laptop...

When I hover the mouse over the "show desktop" button, it used to show the "preview" of desktop; it worked just like the other buttons on the taskbar.

But now it doesn't. It only show the desktop when I click it. All the other aero peek and preview work fine, and no problem can be found with the troubleshooting.

May I know why? I just feel uncomfortable when the computer changes itself without any reason... Thanks!

Answer 1

One thing to check is to right-click on the Taskbar then select Properties and verify on the Taskbar tab of the Properties dialog that "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop" is checked.

Answer 2

I have the same problem. If I do as you suggest, I see that it is checked but it is also grayed out. Hovering over it, does nothing, but I can click it, and it works as it should.

It may be that you don't have Aero and if you don't, that would explain the checkbox being grayed out and Aero Peek not working.  For Aero you must have Home Premium or above and you must be using an Aero theme.  There is some more information in the "How do I get the Aero desktop experience?" section of the following:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Aero-desktop-experience

RESOLVED:

Make sure the Desktop Window Manager Session Manager service is running. If not, Aero will be disabled and the show desktop button, when hovered, will not work.

Answer 3

I have the same problem. If I do as you suggest, I see that it is checked but it is also grayed out. Hovering over it, does nothing, but I can click it, and it works as it should.

It may be that you don't have Aero and if you don't, that would explain the checkbox being grayed out and Aero Peek not working.  For Aero you must have Home Premium or above and you must be using an Aero theme.  There is some more information in the "How do I get the Aero desktop experience?" section of the following:  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Aero-desktop-experience

Answer 4

One thing to check is to right-click on the Taskbar then select Properties and verify on the Taskbar tab of the Properties dialog that "Use Aero Peek to preview the desktop" is checked.

I have the same problem. If I do as you suggest, I see that it is checked but it is also grayed out. Hovering over it, does nothing, but I can click it, and it works as it should.

Answer 5

Oops right! Thank you very much!