Windows 7 taskbar icons - How do you know an app is open?

[Muse]

One of the differences between XP and Windows 7 that's a problem for me is that the icons that launch an app are the same ones I go to in order to give them focus. Hover my cursor over the icon and see -- does a thumbnail window appear or not, that lets me know if any instances are open. However in XP, I don't have to use my cursor at all. A glance at my taskbar lets me know if an instance is open. Whether or not multiple instances in XP go to separate icons, is another question that perplexes me -- I don't know why sometimes they stack and other times they have separate icons for open instances.

So, there are two different issues here, actually:

1. Can I set things up in Windows 7 (I'm running Ultimate 64 bit) so that at least for one particular app I can see if it's running without reaching for my mouse? I ask this because one app in particular can go haywire (crash on me) if I put the machine in suspend and reawaken it, so I have to remember to either close the app or change the state it's in.

2. Why does XP sometimes stack icons for open instances on one icon in the taskbar and sometimes have separate icons? I'll make that a separate thread, if necessary, but the answer may be trivial so I'll leave it here for the time being.

 

[nickbits]

The background around the icon is different if it is open.

I'm not sure what the grouping logic is but you can shut it off (I always do) in taskbar properties.

 

[Muse]

The background around the icon is different if it is open.

I'm not sure what the grouping logic is but you can shut it off (I always do) in taskbar properties.

Cool, nickbits, I never noticed that! The background! Should have noticed, now always will. Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[mikeymikec]

Open apps have a box around the icon, stuck icons don't. I have taskbar buttons set to 'never combine' because I find it a lot easier to find the window I'm looking for quickly.

2. Why does XP sometimes stack icons for open instances on one icon in the taskbar and sometimes have separate icons? I'll make that a separate thread, if necessary, but the answer may be trivial so I'll leave it here for the time being.

Again in taskbar options 'group similar ....' something. I can't remember

 

[lxskllr]

I always disabled grouping, and on my brief run of Win7, I disabled the iconization of applications. I like seeing the text of everything in the taskbar, and I used ObjectDock as an application launcher.