One of the biggest changes in Windows 7 is the task bar.  It is much larger than what you might be used to, and some of us just aren’t so open to “bigger is better”.   It also shows icons instead of buttons, and all application windows are summarized under one icon.
It’s actually pretty nice, but some of us have “issues” with new things – except of course a new operating system.  (As long as it all looks the same, that is…).
But, if you absolutely, positively can not stand the Windows 7 taskbar,  and refuse to be open to anything new, then there are ways to either remove the task bar all together, or go back to the old standby taskbar with which you are more familiar and comfortable.

First let’s review how you turn it off altogether:
1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose Properties.
2. When Taskbar and Start Menu Properties appear, select Taskbar.
3.  You should then see a tab Taskbar Appearance.
4.  Click on Auto-hide the Taskbar.
3. Click OK on the dialog boxes to close them.
The taskbar should slide out of view when you move your mouse pointer away from it.
But maybe you can’t live without a taskbar.  That’s how I am anyway – for some reason it feel comforting to see it sitting up at the top of my documents.  If this is the case, but you hate the Windows 7 taskbar, go ahead and change it back to something that makes you feel more nurtured, like an old favorite blanket.
How to switch back to an old taskbar version

  1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar and choose Properties.
  2. When Taskbar and Start Menu Properties appear, select Taskbar.
  3. You should then see a tab Taskbar Appearance.
  4. Click on Never Combine.
  5. Now you should see buttons that are more familiar to you, more like the previous versions of Windows.
  6. If you choose Small Icons this should help even more.

And, this should make every window show up as a separate button on the taskbar.
If you are really stuck in the past, and are determined to stay with a classic version of Windows, Microsoft was even kind enough to include the ability to do this – for you “old dogs”.  Simply go to the Desktop/Personalize section and click on Windows Classic theme.
No matter what you choose – the new Windows 7 taskbar, an older version, or eliminating it altogether, at least with Windows 7 it is nice to know you have the control over how your display looks.
However, before you give up on the new taskbar, at least give it a try.  You might find it is more efficient and easier to use – once you learn all the ins and outs of it.  It definitely is not going to hurt you – so go ahead and give it a try!  You can do it!