Disable the Thumbnail Preview Feature in Windows 7 | Faster 7 Part 15

There are a large number of graphical effects enabled on the Windows 7 operating system right out of the box.  It is important to weigh the costs and benefits of each one as we go through the Faster 7 series.  There may be a number of tips users just simply do not want to do because they are too much of a fan of them.  This may be one of those tips.  As you know, when there is an image or video within one of your Windows 7 folder, the Windows 7 operating system automatically generates a thumbnail preview to be shown on the folder icon.  This feature isn’t exactly essential, but it does chew up both processing power and memory to function.

For those who are used to the older Windows XP and Windows 2000 operating systems, you have no real need for this feature.  For others, including myself, who find this feature extremely helpful, this would be a tough one to disable.

Disable the Thumbnail Preview Feature in Windows 7

1. Go to your ‘Desktop’

2. Double click on ‘Computer’

3. Select ‘Organize’ in the upper left hand corner.

4. Select ‘Folder and Search Options’

5. Select the ‘View’ Tab

6. Check the box titled ‘Always Show Icons, Never Thumbnails’

7. Uncheck the box titled ‘Display File Icon on Thumbnails’

8. Select ‘Apply’

9. Click ‘Ok’

10. That’s it!

Don’t get discouraged if each tip doesn’t give a huge performance increase.  The purpose of each tip is to speed up your computer just a little bit more.  Eventually, after going through the entire series of tips, your computer will be at peak performance.  Stay tuned, there are plenty more tips to come.