Windows Vista Taskbar Preview Size Bounty

Increasing Windows Vista Taskbar Preview Size: A Challenge

Since the release of Windows Vista, a persistent question has been how to enlarge the diminutive taskbar preview windows. Extensive efforts have been made to locate the relevant settings, including registry exploration and process monitoring, all without success.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

To commemorate reaching 10,000 subscribers, a reward of $103.15 was offered to the first individual capable of discovering a method to increase the size of the native preview windows.

Contest Rules

The following guidelines were established for submissions:

• The solution could be a registry modification or a dedicated application. However, it was required to leverage the integrated previews. Alternatively, any replacement solution needed to utilize the new window compositing engine.
• Users needed to be able to customize the size, either by specifying exact dimensions or using relative proportions.
• If an application was submitted, it had to be released under an open-source license for community access.
• Registry hacks had to be original and not previously published elsewhere; How-To Geek readers were to receive first access.
• Submissions involving VisualTooltip or Visual Task Tips were not considered. While functional applications, they were designed for Windows XP and did not utilize the compositing engine, resulting in slower performance compared to the native previews. A key indicator was the ability to play videos within the preview, mirroring the functionality of the built-in previews.
• The reward would be delivered as either an Amazon or Visa gift card.
• All entries were to be submitted via email.

There was considerable anticipation regarding the solutions the community would devise. The specific amount of $103.15 was chosen arbitrarily, simply based on a feeling. Additional pledges towards the reward were welcomed.

Update: The bounty was claimed by reader Shawn, who submitted a link to Vista Thumbnail Sizer, a utility developed by Andreas Verhoeven. Further information is available below…