As the title says, I'm having real issues on a relatively powerful laptop (Studio XPS13, 2.5 Core2, 4GB, 5.2 WEI) where from time to time my alt-tab will take 10 seconds+ to kick in. In the time when it's waiting you are able to click other windows and do everything as usual, then when it kicks in the window will change. I can't find any reference to this through my googling as others have this problem while playing games, I don't play games and this has happened with a variety of different programs open so it doesn't seem to be program specific. Is there any way to ascertain what's causing this?

You could try this fix from here : Open Registry Editor and create the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AltTab . In that key, create the following DWORD value: LivePreview_ms and set it to the delay (in milliseconds) of the first live preview. You'll have to restart Explorer to see the results. Jerry

I'll give this a shot. I need to get to work to alter it but reading through the thread it doesn't really sound like the issue I'm having. Nonetheless I'll give anything a try! procmon-ing it at the moment, let's see what's happening uth

Just trying to execute this as a format-reinstall hasn't resolved the issue. what is the delay of the first live preview?

Whatever you want it to be. Tryy a number from 500 to 1000. Jerry

Whatever you want it to be. Tryy a number from 500 to 1000. Jerry This hasn't helped, the delay is erratic and has just taken 20s to display. Programs open at the time vary and I thought it might've been acrobat X, but that's not open now and it continues to happen. I'm at the end of my tether and about to throw the laptop at the wall, I can't even remember if this was present before the SP1 - even though this install is an integrated sp1. (I have reformatted 4 times now)

Sounds like an Aero feature problem. I recommend starting with the Dell provided BIOS (A14) and the Dell chipset and video drivers immediately after the build.(OS installation) At Dell support, drivers and downloads, Studio XPS 1340. Have you applied the hard drive update if you have one of the affected models?

Now there's an issue here: 1 - hard drive has been replaced - no changes. 2 - stock dell video drivers don't output full colour to external monitors through digital out - loads of colour banding (ie on the default win7 bg) I shall try the stock video drivers as a test, but I'm startign to think it'll be a compromise either way Severely unhappy with these machines, can't believe they were +£1000 new I have just applied the latest BIOS update, I hadn't done so after having the motherboard replaced. It's made no change at all! Going to have to try the video drivers from 2009 (which I find unbelievable) and then get in touch with Dell... again.

Now there's an issue here: 1 - hard drive has been replaced - no changes. 2 - stock dell video drivers don't output full colour to external monitors through digital out - loads of colour banding (ie on the default win7 bg) I shall try the stock video drivers as a test, but I'm startign to think it'll be a compromise either way Severely unhappy with these machines, can't believe they were +£1000 new