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Is it possible to remove the entry for the desktop from Windows 7's Alt+Tab list? So far I have found a post telling me to add an entry to the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/AltTabSettings

However, this reverts the Alt+Tab menu back to the Windows XP style where you don't get window previews. I just want to remove the desktop entry from the list.

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2  
Before we get too far, mind giving us an explanation why you want to remove it? Perhaps there is a better way to accomplish the real task at hand. – Wayne Hartman Feb 20 '10 at 8:17

3 Answers

up vote 8 down vote accepted

Not a fix, a replacement.

This might do it: http://insentient.net/

or: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/windows-7vistaxp-alt-tab-replacement/

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Is the reason you don't want Desktop in Alt+Tab, because of it interfering with cycling through windows you've minimized, and back?

IF SO: add these three commands to AutoHotKey, which allow you to still have Desktop entry in alt+tab, but with keyboard shortcuts, allows you to restore, in order, the windows that you minimize (in order):

#s::Send,{AltDown}{Esc}{AltUp}{LWinDown}

#a::
Send,{AltDown}{ShiftDown}{Esc}{ShiftUp}{AltUp}{LWinDown}
Sleep, 0
WinMaximize,A
return

#x::
WinMaximize,A
WinMinimize,A
return

Substitute My Win+S and Win+A and Win+X input keys for whatever you like. Full info, see my thread on the 'solution' here.

(N.B. I know this isn't direct answer to question, but I would normally make this a comment. However I just joined superuser and aint got 50 rep, and it's possible or even probable for my info to be either a solution for the aswere's overall problem, or other people searching on the internet like how I got to this page.)

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Option A - without any software or registry hack

  1. Hold down the left alt key Press and release the right alt key
  2. keeping the left alt key held down Then, still keeping the left alt
  3. key held down, tab-tab-tab away


Option B - with a tool from lifehacker

System tweaking utility Alt+Tab Tuner


Option C - Registry Hack

Create a DWORD Value called AltTabSettings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer and set it to 1.

Gives the "old" XP styled Alt-Tab without desktop.

--

Found also a tip, love it: Windows Key + Tab for an over-the-top graphic preview.

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