Taskbar not on top option for Start8?

from Stardock Forums

My first post and sorry if this has already been mentioned. I couldn't find any other references to it.

Start8 is an absolutely brilliant piece of software! I've just upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8 on a small-screen non-touchscreen netbook, and it has transformed Windows 8 from an awkward to use nightmare into something very usable.

There is just one thing that would make it perfect for me, and that's an option to hide the desktop taskbar behind maximised windows.

I don't mean the "auto hide" option that Windows 8 already provides, but the ability to effectively disengage the "keep the taskbar on top of other windows" option that was there in Windows XP (and Windows Vista I believe) but was nonsensically removed in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Someone did produce an application to correct this in Windows 7, documented here, but it doesn't work in Windows 8 (different Explorer version error.)

You can already use Start8 to switch the taskbar transparency off and on, if you could introduce an option for it to be always on top or not, it would be absolutely brilliant!

Thanks for listening, Dave.

:)

start8
3,343 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Thats an interesting request.  I will add it to the list for consideration.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 1
Thats an interesting request.  I will add it to the list for consideration.
End of Neil's quote

Thanks Neil!

When you've only got a 10" screen, you need all of the available display area that you can get, and having the taskbar stuck permanently at the bottom of the screen is very annoying indeed!

Quite why Microsoft removed the option to have the taskbar behind the program windows is beyond me, I can see no reason for it at all.

I'm sure many people would be very grateful if this was resolved.

Cheers, Dave. 

:)

 

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 1

Thats an interesting request.  I will add it to the list for consideration.
End of Neil's quote

This isn't a request, it's a freak'n BUG!

How in the world do you think someone's going to use the Remote Desktop client in full screen mode when the task bar from the host computer bleeds completely through and you can't access the task bar of the remote computer you're trying to work with!  < Expletive's suppressed> 

For such a "polished" piece of software this is a seriously glaring fault!  After all the positive reviews I figured this had to be head-n-shoulders over Classic Shell, but then I run into this oversight.  

I'm feeling like I need to go add a comment to those other overly-positive reviews!

 

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ndfan77, reply 3



Quoting Neil Banfield,
reply 1

Thats an interesting request.  I will add it to the list for consideration.


This isn't a request, it's a freak'n BUG!

How in the world do you think someone's going to use the Remote Desktop client in full screen mode when the task bar from the host computer bleeds completely through and you can't access the task bar of the remote computer you're trying to work with!  < Expletive's suppressed> 

For such a "polished" piece of software this is a seriously glaring fault!  After all the positive reviews I figured this had to be head-n-shoulders over Classic Shell, but then I run into this oversight.  

I'm feeling like I need to go add a comment to those other overly-positive reviews!

 
End of ndfan77's quote

I think there may be some confusion here.

This thread was about a customer asking for an option to make the taskbar not always on top.  Since at least Windows 7 the taskbar settings dialog no longer has an option to make the taskbar anything but always on top.  This means in general use it is above any other windows.  For 99.9% of users this is what they want which is why Microsoft removed the option in the first place.

However with or without Start8 the taskbar will automatically hide itself when a fullscreen application like Remote Desktop is running and I double checked this just 2 minutes ago to be sure.  Start8 is not taking anything away from the OS, it works the same with or without it.

If you are having an issue with the taskbar remaining on top of a fullscreen remote desktop window then I suspect it is a conflict with something else, but please contact support@stardock.com so we can gather some information.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello.

Well i use 2 screens on my pc for many reasons.

When i use a program (or a game) i use it in windowed mode (to use the second screen for other things).

In windowed mode you still see the taskbar, where in vista or xp you could have the program/game windowed ON TOP of the taskbar (dunno if i'm clear, english is not my first language...)

So i think having this option on Start8 could be usefull for guys like me.

 

Fullscreen mode is a bad thing when you want to use more than one screen.