Taks Manager Window

[JamesJ]

Vista Basic x32 sp2

My Task Manager windows had no menu or tabs unless I double clicked near a border.
Any idea why Task Manager would open preventing me from clocing it unless I double clicked
the border?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Vista Basic x32 sp2

My Task Manager windows had no menu or tabs unless I double clicked near a border.
Any idea why Task Manager would open preventing me from clocing it unless I double clicked
the border?

You're running in what's called "Small Footprint Mode." To change back
and forth from this mode to regular mode, just double-click on the
border (as you've done).

 

[Andrew McLaren]

Vista Basic x32 sp2
My Task Manager windows had no menu or tabs unless I double clicked near
a border.
Any idea why Task Manager would open preventing me from clocing it
unless I double clicked
the border?

Hi James

Your Task Manager is running in the so-called "Tiny Footprint" mode.
This is intended to be a feature of Task Manager (not a bug!); although
many people do find it confusing. Tiny Footprint mode allows you to
shrink down Task Manager to a very small size - handy for geeks who like
to constantly watch their CPU utilisation, and the like.

Usually Task Manager will re-open in whichever mode it was closed in.
So: open Task Manager, double-click to restore the menus and tabs and
then close it by going File, Exit. The next time you re-open it, it
should open in normal mode, not Tiny Footprint mode.

However, if it seems to be "stuck" and always re-opens in Tiny Footprint
mode, you can reset Task Manager to all its default settings, this way:

- open a Command Prompt window;
- at the prompt type TASKMGR
- do not press <Enter> yet! Leave the command visible and ready to run.
- hold down the Control, Alt, and Shift keys;
- now press <Enter> to run the Taskmgr command;
- now release the Ctrl, Alt and Shift keys.

When Task manager starts, it checks to see if these 3 keys are held
down; if they are, then Task Manager reverts to all its default
settings. The next time you run Task Manager, whether by right-clicking
the toolbar, using Ctrl-Shift-Esc, or by manually running the Taskmgr
command, it should now start in normal mode. You can still toggle back
and forthe to Tiny Mode, by clicking near the edges of the window.

Hope it helps,

Andrew

 

[JamesJ]

What would cause Task Manager to run in "Tiny Footprint" to begin with?
I didn't even know of this feature so I sure didn't set it to do this.

James

Vista Basic x32 sp2
My Task Manager windows had no menu or tabs unless I double clicked near
a border.
Any idea why Task Manager would open preventing me from clocing it
unless I double clicked
the border?

Hi James

Your Task Manager is running in the so-called "Tiny Footprint" mode.
This is intended to be a feature of Task Manager (not a bug!); although
many people do find it confusing. Tiny Footprint mode allows you to
shrink down Task Manager to a very small size - handy for geeks who like
to constantly watch their CPU utilisation, and the like.

Usually Task Manager will re-open in whichever mode it was closed in.
So: open Task Manager, double-click to restore the menus and tabs and
then close it by going File, Exit. The next time you re-open it, it
should open in normal mode, not Tiny Footprint mode.

However, if it seems to be "stuck" and always re-opens in Tiny Footprint
mode, you can reset Task Manager to all its default settings, this way:

- open a Command Prompt window;
- at the prompt type TASKMGR
- do not press <Enter> yet! Leave the command visible and ready to run.
- hold down the Control, Alt, and Shift keys;
- now press <Enter> to run the Taskmgr command;
- now release the Ctrl, Alt and Shift keys.

When Task manager starts, it checks to see if these 3 keys are held
down; if they are, then Task Manager reverts to all its default
settings. The next time you run Task Manager, whether by right-clicking
the toolbar, using Ctrl-Shift-Esc, or by manually running the Taskmgr
command, it should now start in normal mode. You can still toggle back
and forthe to Tiny Mode, by clicking near the edges of the window.

Hope it helps,

Andrew

 

[Andrew McLaren]

What would cause Task Manager to run in "Tiny Footprint" to begin with?
I didn’t even know of this feature so I sure didn't set it to do this.

Many, many people over the years have managed to get their Task manager
into the Tiny Footprint mode accidentally. It's quite easy to do when
you're clicking around on the screen - if you miss a tab or menu item by
a few pixels, bang! - you're in Tiny mode. And not immediately obvious
how you return to the normal state. That's how most people end up in
this state.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[JamesJ]

Ok.
As long as it isn't a problem with my system.

Thanks,
James

What would cause Task Manager to run in "Tiny Footprint" to begin with?
I didn’t even know of this feature so I sure didn't set it to do this.

Many, many people over the years have managed to get their Task manager
into the Tiny Footprint mode accidentally. It's quite easy to do when
you're clicking around on the screen - if you miss a tab or menu item by
a few pixels, bang! - you're in Tiny mode. And not immediately obvious
how you return to the normal state. That's how most people end up in
this state.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[JamesJ]

As long as I can restore it.

Thanks,
James

Vista Basic x32 sp2

My Task Manager windows had no menu or tabs unless I double clicked near a border.
Any idea why Task Manager would open preventing me from clocing it unless I double clicked
the border?

You're running in what's called "Small Footprint Mode." To change back
and forth from this mode to regular mode, just double-click on the
border (as you've done).

 

[Andrew McLaren]

Ok.
As long as it isn't a problem with my system.
Thanks,

No, everything you're seeing is completely normal behaviour, and "by
design". It's just a little bit unintuitive, that's all. Task Manager
has worked this way since Windows NT 3.1 in 1993.

For everyone who get strapped by this, there seems to be someone else
who relies on this behaviour, they don't want Task Manager to work any
other way.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

As long as I can restore it.

You can always change from either mode to the other by the
double-click.

Thanks,

You're welcome. Glad to help.