Hi. The "group similar taskbar buttons option" is gone from the taskbar properties. It used to be there. Suddenly it's gone. How can I get it back?

1. Right click on a empty area of the taskbar and click on Properties. A) Go to step 3. OR 2. Click on the Start button and click on Properties. A) Click on the Taskbar tab. 3. Click on the drop down arrow menu to the right of Taskbar buttons. 4. To Always Group Taskbar Buttons - NOTE: Any taskbar buttons for the same program or window will always be grouped to one icon button. A) Click on Always combine, hide labels to select it. B) Go to step 7. 5. To Only Group Taskbar Buttons when the Taskbar is Full - NOTE: Any taskbar buttons for the same program or window will be grouped to one icon button when the taskbar runs out space for the buttons. A) Click on Combine when taskbar is full to select it. B) Go to step 7. 6. To Never Group Taskbar Buttons - NOTE: Open window taskbar buttons will remain as separate buttons on the taskbar and not be grouped together. A) Click on Never combine to select it. 7. Click on OK.

The wordings are different in Windows 7, and is an additional option provided. Change how buttons appear on the taskbar: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-how-buttons-appear-on-the-taskbarRamesh Srinivasan | The Winhelponline Blog Microsoft MVP, Windows Desktop Experience

Hi. Thanks for your replies. I see I have been unclear. I apologize. What I want to avoid is that similar taskbar buttons are grouped together horizontally. I have already disabled the function that make them group into one button. For instance: If I open another Explorer window, I would like it to open at the far right side, not next to the other Explorer windows that may be, for instance, all the way to the left. I don't know if that's possible?

Hi bipbop, The feature you mentioned cannot be achieved in Windows 7. In Windows 7, it is by design that windows of one application are grouped together and you can move them horizontally on the taskbar by group. J Linda TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thank you, Linda. That's what I needed to know !