Taskbar with Thumbnail Preview Faltering in Windows 7

As I use Windows 7, I grow to love it even more.  However, I've run into a few issues like UPnP/DLNA failures with Nero MediaHome, lack of HomeGroup functionality (even if it claims to be working), and now the intermittent loss of active thumbnails from the taskbar.  I think the first two might be addressed by some switch-based testing (taking the router, and therefore the UPnP gateway out of it), but the last one is probably most annoying as I've grown accustomed to seeing what an app is doing from the taskbar, rather than switching to it.  Any ideas?  Logging off and back on seems to address it, but tweaking the performance settings (what Windows will render, like drop shadows and animations) doesn't change the issue.

This is courtesy of the "Solarize" filter in SnapPhoto (a camera application for Android). Oh, and it's a photo of the Mii avatar my wife was setting up. Check out the sweet reel-to-reel beneath it.

Using HomeGroup in Windows 7

Anybody have issues with getting this to run?  After a few hours of fiddling, I got two systems to "join," but they never shared anything.  I am still trying though, but it doesn't look promising considering the issues others have had with no answer on what to do.

Problem installing Office 2007 (or updates) on Windows 7?

It took me a while of trying different ways to install Office 2007 SP1 (or other patches through Windows Update) to no avail.  Then, I got this prompt right when I was going to forcefully remove Office from my install:

Solve a problem with Windows 7 beta

An issue with the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) client in Windows 7 beta is causing Explorer and some MSI-based installers to stop working properly.

To solve this problem, follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button , click All Programs, and then click Accessories.

2. Right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. In the User Account Control window, verify that Program name is Windows Command Processor, and then click Yes.

3. In the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type or paste the following text at the prompt:

   reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SQMClient\Windows\DisabledSessions /va /f

4. Press Enter to install the solution.

5. If The operation completed successfully displays, close the Administrator: Command Prompt window to complete this procedure. If "ERROR: Access is denied" displays, repeat this procedure from the top, making sure you clicked Run as administrator in step two.

Problems with ATIO Disk Benchmark?

If you're getting the following:

"cannot open file benchtst.$$$"

You're probably running Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, or Windows 7.  You probably have UAC running normally as well (good for you!).  To get around it, right click on the application binary (or your shortcut to it) and select "Run as Administrator."  This will give you the permissions you need to create the initial file for the benchmark to run.

Dark Side of the OS

Nice rendering? I thought so. So, I thought I'd throw it up here. Mostly, this is just so I can follow through on my resolution to be more aggressive on my posting. I have more stuff to throw up here, like my fun with Vista on my Dell Mini 9 (netbook) and Vista x64 on my Inspiron 530 quad core.

I did get some toys recently, including an interesting watch and a couple Logitech MX Revolution mice from Best Buy on sale. I got a couple Mosquito 4x4 micro-copters from Radio Shack, and I might throw up some interesting stuff on those too. Or not.